
Pass F 7 4 



ICGO. 1800. 

A 



Bl-CENTENNIAL OUATION 



WEST BROO:^lELD, JULY 4, 18C0. 



AT THE CELBBHATION OF THE 



TWO HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY 



OF TOE SETTLKMENT OF TUB 



TOWN OF BROOKFIELD. 



BY LYMAN WHITINO, D.D. 



A KATIVK l>r XORTn BBOOKriKLD. 



WEST BROOKFIELD: 

PRINTED BY THOMAS MORI^Y. 

1 869. 



f1^ 




Ixx Bx.ciiaiig9 
Amer. Ant. Soo. 

26 i\ ^^0^ 



TO TUE 



INUABITANTS NOW LIVING 



AND WHO MAY HEEEAPTER DWELL IN TUE PRECINCTS OF THE ANCIENT 



QU^IBOAG, "ALIJAS BROOKEFEILD," 



niS OWN LOVED niRTU-PLACE. 



THE AUTHOR 



DEDICATES TUIS LABORIOUS BUT LOVED TASK. 



LYMAN WHITING. 



ORATION. 



Tliis is a day for salutations. A family, scattered tliroii^li 
a nation iiave come home. Faces and names are recalled, 
anil l»v-gone scenes connected with them sj)rini: "p i'> irrejtres- 
sible, i^lad surprises. Ilalt-forgotten acfjuaintances of youth, 
like vines after ijleaninir, hidiny; here and there a cluster over- 
hujked, but ripened to ])eculiar sweetness, are found by each 
one of us. The ancient hills, the old rocks and trees smile 
tluir recognitions. The bright brooks chatter their greetings 
from grassy banks, and old homesteads, a few, — and new ones, 
manv, — offer winning welcomes from opened gate and door. 
A <,d:ul accost beams alike from the face of nature and of all 
the (lueliers in this I'ndeared town-home. 

" Welcome home ! " you say. " Glad to come home ! " we 
reply, for 

" Joyfully (Iciu- Is the homewiird tnick. 
If wc are but sure of a wtlcoiue hack." 

The Third Jubilee, since English hands and hearts made 
these fields, hills, and valleys the scenes of love's great care and 
toil, has come. We, the heirs of the costly estiite, assemble to 



cherish and rejoice in it. It is fitting that we exchange hearty 
salutations. 

This done, the serious heed of history must be assumed, 
and reverently we take up the tasks of the hour. Beginning, 
Hke curious children, at the mother's knee, we ask first, Hoto 
this came to be a town ? What led our fathers here ? What 
fixed their choice for this as their abode ? Why was Brnokfield 
settled ? 

These questions will find replies in part further back than record 
or tradition reaches. In that Infinite Counsel which tunis the 
hearts of men as rivers of water are turned, is a cause under- 
lying all others ; and though grand visible laws may disclose 
the methods, and men may seem to be the only actors, we 
really do little in stating the truth of any history, though of just 
a single town like this, until we discern a higher power and 
wisdom, and plans shaped by both than any man or class 
of men have devised. God is in history, — in that of a town- 
ship as distinctly as in that of an empire. 

The great and terrible forces impelling our forefathers to the 
New World, you all well know. The impulses which scattered 
the children of the first emigrants, and the new-come emigra- 
tions after the earliest, from the first homes along the sea- 
coast, — are not as familiar. We, looking at their case, a 
slender cliain of settlements clinging to the sea-side, as if need- 
ing land and sea both, to sui)ply daily food ; or as if, tarrying on 
the thrcshokl of the continent, so they could more readily flee 
back, if they could not stay here, — naturally ask. Why do 
not those coming after, in equal prudence, stay with this line 
of plantations, where certain sustenance, and all the comforts — 
scanty and jioor, indeed — which the new world had, were 
gathered ? Instead of tliis, from all the sea-side settlements, 
thi; iin|nilM- (or a westward and inland migration carried nearly 



all ol tlio second rjoncration from tlio lialf-rurnlsln'd and lialf- 
protc'ctc'd homes of tlit'ir fathers, into the deep wilderness. It is 
a constant question in penising the story of that veneration, 
M hat shaped tliesc paths of most darinrj, and seeminp;ly need- 
less removals ? No doubt the marked Saxon love of land, the 
cravinjT for soil, in which traditional aristocracy, dij^nity, and 
wcii^ht of character united ; and the common pride of j)ossession 
and sense of independence, pushed the youn^ men of those 
times into the wild lands where oc<-u|iancy almost gave posses- 
sion. Large estates were princely. House lots, in the mari- 
time settlements, wen' not hroad enough for youth with the 
blood and birth of Purhnn Pilgrim stirring them. The choice 
of Quaboag by the inhabitants of Ipswich, who then, as we 
should think, had ten times more land than they could take care 
of, well shows this. 

The first selection was of lands along the sea-board, as be- 
fore mentioned, where united the advantages of production and 
transport, and the twofold resources for sustenance, — land and 
sea. The broad river, and its rich alluvial basin, with meadows 
so friendly to tillage ; the stream serving as an highway, and 
the adjacent highlands offering fuel, pasturage and buihhng 
material was the second choice. The third selection, wius the 
regions of hills and ponds with connecting rivers bordered by 
facile meadows, lying between. Many of the advantages of 
sea-shore and river valleys united in these. The historical law of 
the early settlement was formed essentially of these conditions. 
Up and down the New England borders, the rugged sea-coast 
first wins the strangers from the parent land ; their sons, by a 
daring plunge, reach the fair Connecticut, and speedily the })ros- 
perous settlements adorn the queenly valley ; and then, between 



6 

these extremities in locality, — if not in qualities of character, 
others settled upon the midway summits, nestling among these 
matchless hills and valleys, lying like a basket of pomegran- 
ates, in an area of about fifty miles, a family of fi'uitful hills, 
exquisitely rounded, and gemmed with clusters of ponds, as fair 
in beauty as the hills are noble in form. 

I w'onder not that the river valley first won the companies 
of land-fanciers, and those searching for pleasing homes. The 
Queen of that valley was, as now, fair to look upon. Her 
waving vestments of meadow verdures, her stately coronets of 
hills and mountains, were enough to captivate her Saxon suitors 
at a glance. Nor need we deny that among them were many 
of the choicest spirits who then awaited the call of fields un- 
explored and of lands unmeasured. But that some, on their 
journeys thither, discerned the less showy and less winning 
charms of Quaboag — the land of hills and lakes — sturdier in 
aspect, and so summoning higher valor in the settler, need not 
sui'prise us. 

Tidings of this very marked region doubtless found their 
way to the sea-side settlements through the explorers and lead- 
ers of the emigrations to the " River," as its region was then 
termed ; and when the first wave had spent itself at Hartford, 
Windsor, Springfield and Hadley, the next one paused among 
the singularly charming swells and meadows of Brookfield. 

For fifteen years the rugged path between Dorchester and 
Cambridge, and the settlements made from them on the River, 
had been kept open by the infrequent journeyings between 
these extremes of colonial settlement. But the land-hunger 
craved fresh spaces. On the 31st of May 1660, in the second 
year of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, is found the head- 
ing in the margin, " Ipsuich new plantacon." 



" In ails'" to tlu* pcticiin of st'iUTiII tlic inliahitants of I|)s\vicli, 
tliis Court jtulm'tli it nicote to rrrjuint the pctitioiUTs sixc iiiiK's 
square, or so uiucli land as shall Ik- contrjiu'd in such a coni|»asso, 
in a |ilaco niTo Quoljorrrr Ponils, providt'd thov hauo twenty 
fatnllvi's tlicro re'sident \v"'in tluvc yoeros, & that they liaui- an 
ahlo minister setled there w"'iii tlie sajd tenne, such as this 
Court shall ajiproove, and that thev make chu' jjrovission in 
some wav or other for the future, either hy settijiix '^ P^i'*^ <'f 
land, or w' else shall he thought mecte for the continuance of 
the ministry amongst them ; ami that if they shall faile in any 
of tlie particculars ahoue mentioned, this graunt of the Court 
to he voyd & of none effect." 

What did the Ipswich jieople want of Podnnk lands, one 
hnndri'd miles from their homes? The passion for land, as 
hefore named, is partly the answer. Their petition to the 
General Court bi-gins — 

" Forasmuch as it is found l)y Dayly experience that tlie 
common Lands of this T(»wne ( Ij)swiclO s^i**^ overhnrdcMied hv 
the multiplyiuij dwelliiiix houses contrary to the true intent and 
meanini; of the first Inhahitants in their granting of liouse lotts 
and other lands to such as came amonrrst them, to the end such 
inconvenience may be prevented " — 

From the last run of Western land fever hack to earliest an- 
nals, tlu> symptoms and forms are much the same. A curious 
po(>m. datiHJ twelve years hefore this grant, entitled "Good 
News fnim Ni'w England," so adniirahlv reciti-s the modes of 
land trade at that day, that I will jdace a jiortion of it here : 

Polijjhtfull to the eye did lye the wootla nnd mc<lowc8 prcojio, 

Tlie paths iintnid hy nmn and l)0ju<t, both smooth nnd clenly scene. 
Most men iinhinded till this time, for Inrpe Innds K!if,-os sue, 

ITsid not restriiint kno(^kt of their hands, too hijr their femies had prow. 
fiivp eaiv I pniy unto the praise si't on a new I'lantation, 

Fii-st tor tli(> ino<low sirs says one, T have found such a station. 
Where p-ass doth prow as hiph as I, round stalkes and very thicke. 

No hassocks hut a bottom plain, Carts cannot therein stick. 



8 

Boatca mny come up unto our doors, the Crocks convenient ]ye. 

Fish plenty taken in them arc, plains plowable hard by. 
No bush nor roots to hinder them, j'et stately timber is, 

In every swamp, yea uphinds too, most clobberd troes I wis. 
Clay there for bricke and tile, pot-earth with ease, and store. 

Some men suppose black lead is there, silver and copper o're. 
Carry but guns, and wild fowle will be brought unto our tlishea. 

Venison and Moose you there may catch according to your wishes. 
All creatures thrive exceeding well, Goats, Swine, and sheep for meat, 

Horse, Cows, and Calves encrease as well, ther's store of English wheat 
Five, seven, or nine old Planters doe take up their station first, 

Whose property is not to share unto themselves the worst. 
Their Cottages like Crows nests built, new commers goods attain, 

For mens accommodation sake, they truck their seats for gaine. 
Come buy my house, here you may have, much niedow at yourc dore, 

'T will be dearer if you stay till, the laud be planted o're. 
See you that garden-plat inclos'd, Pumkins there hundreds are, 

Parsnips and roots, with Cabiges, grow in great plenty there. 
Lay out an hundred pound or two, you shall have such a seat. 

When you have planted but one crop, you cannot want for meate. 
This praise doth make the purchaser his gold and silver throw, 

Into his hand for house and land that yet he did not know. 
Unseen, and yet [so] sudden bought, when once the sale was ended. 

His purchase makes him misse of more, with gifts he's not befriended 
One he hath friends to praise his parts, his lot shall larger be. 

For usefiill men are highly priz'd, such shall sell two or three. 
Insatiate minds for me<iow, and best land they could attain, 

Hath caused Townes, land lay by lot, I wish it were not vaine. 

—Mass. Hist. Coll. Vol. I. s. 4. 

It is possible a cabin or two may have slieltered some darino; 
pioneer before this grant, but it is quite doubtful. It was really 
a land speculation. Room for cattle, and founding a new plan- 
tation — a W(.>stern Reserve to the emigrants of that day, who 
would escape the tedious and perilous addition of the journey 
to the Illinois, — the Connecticut valley. 

It proved a rare resolution indeed, under any impulse, to tarry 
in this settlement. It was a perilous solitude. Thirty miles 
eastward was Lancaster, as far westward, Springfield, and these 
not only the nearest but the only neighbors ; and strong as were 
the affections between the settlements, how long in coming must 
succor be in the day of trouble, tlii'ougli that houseless, roadless, 



iilriiost j):itlilcs.s wililiTiU'ss. Rivers, swiuiips, dctis of wild Ix-asts, 
and haunts of mk'II more terril)le, divided these feeble bands. 
Wliat a race of (iivatliearts led ami defended the ancestries 
of these now wide-spri'ad families ! 

It was a true heroism to tarrv a night here, for yonder quiet 
stream creeping down the valley, like a silver thread, into the 
Wickaboag, would guiile the settler to the " chief seat " of the 
Nipmucs, — but a morning's run distant. This tribe ranged 
more territory, and were more numerous than any of the New 
England Imlians except the Narragansetts. Elliot, ten years 
before, spoke of Nipmuck as " A great country lying between 
Connectacot and the Massachusetts, called Nipnet, where thero 
be many Indians dispersed." The terrible pestilence had, how- 
ever, crippled the tribe into some subjection to their neighbors 
wilt) h:id escaped tlu scourge. In a letter of William Pyn- 
chon to (t >v. Dudley, dated May ll348, about some munlerers 
in the region, he says, " Thero are several small factions of 
C^uaboag, and in all near places there are other small factions. 
No one taction doth rule all." Gookin, a choice authority in 
t)ne class of Indian antiipiities, counts (^uaboag as one of the 
ten villages of Christian converts within the Nipmuck coun- 
try. " Their character was more gentle and peaceful than 
generally belongs to savage life." If they were prai/ing' Indians, 
or if some of them had received the gospel, this was doubtless 
true ; but factions are always (piarrelsome, and often unite only 
to prevail over a common enemy, as our fathers sorrowfully learn- 
ed from these. 

The settlement w;vs not at Hrst a favorite to emigrants. The 
grant failed to win settlers enough to meet the conditions of 
tenure. 

Perhaps a grant soon after [1004] made in behalf of the In- 
dians of Putikoo-kiipog " nere (^uoboag," a plantation not ex- 



10 

ceetling " fower thousand acres and that it prejudice not Ips- 
wich grant" — delayed somewhat the settling here. Plainly 
some " prejudice " turned the restless emigrants of that day 
from here, for May 15, lGt37, an extremely discouraging record 
is made of the place by the General Court. 

" This Court, hauing pervsed the grant which the General! 
Court made anno 1600 to the first vndertakers for that place 
doe finde that. 1. By their non observance of the condition of 
their grant, the same is altogether voyd, & that now the order- 
ing & disjiosing thereof is wholly in this Courts power. 

2. Considering that there is already at Quabauge about sixe 
or seven familyes, & that the place may be capable of receiving 
many more, this Court will readily grant them the liberty of a 
touneshij) when they shall be in a ffit capacity. 

3. In the meane time this Court appoints Cap* John Pin- 
chon, John Aires, W"" Prichard, Richard Coy, & John Young- 
low, or any three of them, whereof Cap* Pinchon to be one of 
the three, who shall liaue power to admitt inhabitants, grant 
lands, & to order all the prudentiall aftayres of the place in all 
respects, vntill it shall appeare that the place shall be so far 
setled w**^ able men as that this Court may judge meete to give 
them the fall liberty of a touneship according to lawe. 

4. Because the inhabitants of Ipswich made the first motion 
for that plantation, & some of tlieni haue binn at charges about 
it, altlumgh by their remisse prosecution they haue now lost all 
their right, yet, such of them as shall setle there by midsunnner 
come twelue moneth, they shall haue an interest in the lands 
there in proportion w*'' others ; but if by that time they shall 
not be there setled, they shall then loose their lands, and all 
their charges w*** they haue been at vpon y* place. 

5. They are to take care for the getting and maynteyning of 
a godly minister among them, and that no evill persons, ene- 
mjes to the lawe of this comon weale in judgment or practise, 
be recenucil ns inli;iliit;ints. 

G. Fur proiMotliig ol' tlie aforesajd j)lantation, and incourage- 



11 

iiKMit tlicreof, this Court doctli now rrrant that phuitation seven 
yeures freedom from all puMick rates ami taxes to the coimtrv, 
provided those inhal)itaiits of Ipswieh w''' intend to inhdhildufs 
of Ipswich m''^^ jnlnii I Z^* iiih:il)it at (^iialiaiiLjc hv niid-.-imiinfr 
come twehie month doe en^a^e to i^ive seeurity to the aljtjiu'sajd 
comittee, w"'in three moneths after the date hereof, that they 
nill performe aeeordingly, that so others that would setle there 
may not be hindreil." 

This legislative rebuke and free handling of the projectors 
of the settlement was not without effect. They doubtless be- 
stirred themselves to meet the new condition, and the commit- 
tee who were mostly on the " River " were no doubt much 
wiser managers of atfairs than the Ijiswit-h projectors. The 
growth was such that in llJl^j, the Court entrusted them with 
a town name and estate. 

" In ans*^ to the petition of the inhabitants of Quobauge, the 
Court judgeth it nieete to grant their re<piest, i. e. the liberty 
&, priuiledge of a toinieship, and tiiat tne name thereof be 
Brookfeild, provided they divide not the whole lands of the 
touneship till they be forty or tiuety familyes ; in the mean t!me 
that their dividings one to another exceede not two hundred 
acres to any present inhabitant." 

I am at a loss to account for the language in the ?A section 
of the Act of 1(577, aiipdinting a conuuittee " until! it shall a|>- 
jiiap' that the place shall be so farr setled w"' able men as that 
the Court may judge meete to give them the full liberty of a 
touneship according to law," — and then n-appoiuting the com- 
nnttee in the act of erection, ami again dning it nineteen years 
attei", (^Itll'l') some of tlu- same persons holding the other 41 
years, oi- until 171S. Wore there nun fond of place and of 
profitable otHces aujong even our fathers ? The inhabitants did 
not begin to hoKl meetings, or to act with the counnittee. nntd 
the beginning of the ne.xt century (1700). 



12 

The River settlers must have entered into a partnership with 
the Ipswich planters, or else a most admirable amity and care 
for the common good prevailed, for by a deed dated 10th No- 
vember 16G5, Ensign Thomas Cooper of Springfield bought the 
land of measurement indefinite if not limitless, " together with the 
trees, waters, stones, profits, commodities and advantages there- 
of, for himself and for the present planters of Quaboag," of one 
Shattoockquis for 300 fathom of wampum. Who directed this 
purchase or why it was made is not apparent. Mr. Cooper in 
his deed of transfer given after the act incorporating the town 
was passed, declares that his " acting in the premises was only 
in the behalf of, and for the use and behoof of the inhabitants 
of Quaboag," etc. But the Court liad already granted over and 
over the lands. Who paid the wami)um, — the proprietors, or the 
settlers, or Mr. Cooper ? W^as this purchase merely to pacify 
the Indians, and justify the occupancy of the land to" the exchi- 
sion of the local tribes ? If it satisfied them, a mercantile jus- 
tice was done by it, but that they did not understand it as an 
agreement to abandon these favorite haunts, is plain from their 
staying, just as they had done, on the soil. 

Tliis transfer (no price is named) was made to John Warner, 
Richard Coye and William Pritchard, — " to the iuliabitants of 
Brookfield aforesaid, and to their successors and their heirs for- 
ever." This deed is recorded in Hampshire County, subscribed 
December 19, 1673, by Lieutenant Thomas Cooper. Two years 
after this act of General Court, a meeting house is found in 
possession of the " twenty families," and although no minister is 
discerned among them, yet the erection of the house of worsliip 
assures us that the word of God was then preached and his 
praises sung amid the wenrisome solitude. 

But their day of trial was at hand. It was truly a terrible 
day to meet. King IMiilijt selected either the Indians dwelling 



lioro as special coiifiMlc'iMtcs, or this loiiciv scttlomcnt for an early 
victim to liis exteniiinatiiig cuiisj)ii-acy. IV-i'iiaps the two 
unitetl in liis wary j)lut. Let us trace carefully this chapter of 
woe. 

Philip, sachem of Mt. Hope, — the landmark of the renrion of 
the now beautiful town of Bristol, R. I., between the charmini; 
waters of Mount Hope and Narra^ansett IJays, — perjjetuated 
his father Massasoit's temjier toward the English, and especially 
toward their faNorite theme — rcliu;iun. He "rejected with dis- 
dain " the [in)iii»->al to liave the ai)ostle I'^liot i)rcacli. Mather 
says, " once, taking hold of the apostle's coat, he said, ' I care 
no more for the gospel than for that button ' " Yet G(»okin 
testities that he had heard expressions from Philip showing that 
his conscience was moved. We hope it was so, indeed that niav 
account in part for the intense fury of his movements. I 
strongly suspect some yet untold and secret enmity like a liichK-n 
brand, infuriated this subtle chieftain. So large and deadly a 
plan demanded iuipulses to frame and execute it unkiiown to the 
savage in his usual warfare. In eager hopefulness, I lia\ e con- 
sidered the plea of reluctant consent, and of ti-nder movings 
toward the English, — jmt in for him, — and that he was more 
the executor than the projector of the bloody work. Mav it 
finally be found to be so. 

Hut an enthusiasm in enmity, that could blend and inflame 
all the " factions " and scattered families of savages who joined 
with Philip, had no doubtful or irresolute original projector. 

The part that bloody Jesuit, Baron Castine, — with his troops 
of Indian wives and Popish priests, — had in it, was no doubt a 
Jesuit's part against Protestantism. Certain it is the Indians 
were trained in the use of firearms, and surprised the English 
by their sui)ply of them and skill in using them, before it was 
known that, fiom that French nobleman's castle on the Pen(il> 



14 



scot river, those deadly missiles were freely furnished to the 
savao-es to be used against the EnMish. But if we cannot un- 
veil the terrible impulse moving this extirpating sachem, his 
terrible deeds written in the blood of our fathers and mothers, 
and echoing in shrieks and sighs to our day, commend the annal- 
ist to fidelity of record. 

Suggestions of a wide-spread confederacy against the English 
had been dropped here and there, awaking the settlers to pru- 
dent concern, if not to watchfulness. 

In the beginning of April, Waban, the princij)al ruler of the 
praying Indians living at Natic, came to one of the magistrates 
on purpose, and informed him that " he had ground to fear that 
Sachem Philip and other Indians, his confederates, intended 
some mischief shortly to the English, and Christian Indians." 
In May he repeated the warning. " Others of the Christian 
Indians did speake the same, and that when the woods were 
grown thick with green trees " the work would begin. These 
warnings proved true, for in mid July (14th) four or five men 
wex'e suddenly attacked and killed in Mendon. This startled 
the Massachusetts settlements, and put the government into ear- 
nest action. " Bloud was never shed in Massachusetts in a way 
of hostility before this day," says Mather. This deed is ascribed 
to Matoonus — "a grave and sober Indian ap])()inted by Gookin 
a constable of Pakachoag " (part of Worcester and Ward, now 
Auburn.) His son four years before had been executed for the 
nnu'der of an Englishman, and his " head set up on a pole" — 
a fearful sting to Indian vindictiveness, — and this slaughter is 
claimed to have been the father's revenge for that aggravated 
justice. The tidings got to Boston " next day at Lecture time, 
in the midst of the Sermon," and consternation spread with 
them. 

A few days after, Philip narrowly escaped from Pocasset 



15 

swamp, and with :i fi'w cliiofs roarluvl tlio Nipmuck country, 
ovorvwlu'iv stirrin<i; tlu' Indians to thirst for Kni^Msli Iilond. 
The govi-rnuK'nt also, knowinu; the consiMiui'nci.'S of the In- 
tlians hereabouts unitinii; in such a strife, l)ut not kuKwiuLT that 
Philip had preceded them, sent Ephraini Curtis, whom Lim-ohi 
styles " the first settler of Worcester," — to observe and confirm 
all friendly disposition among them. On the '24th of July he 
liail an interview with four of their sachems here, they 
promisiuii; to continue in j)eace. They would make a new treaty 
to that etlect. To make sure of tliese <tooi1 omens, the govi-rn- 
ment very promptly sent Caj)t. Edward Hutchinson as an am- 
bassador to secure the promised fiilelity. 

It was a wise selection on the ground of much friendly ac- 
quaintance with these ca|)ricious and treacherous neighbors. 
Capt. Thomas Wheeler commanding " twenty men or more," 
as escorts, with three christian Indians, to help as guides and 
interpreters, attended him. They set out from Cambridge, 28th 
July. " Passing," says one " the forsaken wigwams of the 
Savages who had fli'd ln'fore to concentrate power tor a heavy 
blow at l»rooktield," which they '' reached Lonl's day Aug. 1st. 
about noon," and not remembering to hallow the day accord- 
ing to the commandment, sent at once four men to inform 
the Inilians of their errand ; not any harm to them, but 
a message from the Honored Governor and Council, desiring 
the i>romised league for peace. 

The Indians met these men with great uproar, and " an hun- 
dred and fifty fighting men " gathered about them. " The 
young men amongst them were stouL in their speeches, and sur- 
ly in their carriage." 

After brief jjarley, " some of the chief Sachems " promised 
to meet the messengers the next morning ''about 8 of the i-lock 
upon a plain within three miK-s of Prooklield." Some of these 



16 

Indians know Oapt. Hutchinson personally, liavinof worked on 
his farm. They " would speak with none but Capt. H. him- 
self." 

The suspicious appearances " did much discourage divers of 
the company," says Wheeler, but Hutchinson feeling, no 
doubt, the great urgency of the case and his personal stake 
in the success of his mission, and being also persuaded by the 
over confidence of the Brookfield men, resolved to go out to meet 
them. Early on that sorrowful morning, — Monday, Aug. 2d., 
as we picture the scene, anxious countenances and few words, 
and silent preparations marked the hour. Hutchinson, thoughtful, 
inquisitive, foreboding, is in consultation much of the time. The 
little band of two captains and twenty soldiers, with guns and 
pistols, and uniform, the three Indian guides, — a great sight 
in the lonely Settlement, — and " three of the principal inhabi- 
tants of that town marched." 

It must have been a morning of bodeful gloom, especially 
to the women and children, and to the troops also, as watchfully 
they descended yon hill-sides, and filed into the thick wood, 
hiding their path from those left behind. They came to the 
spot agreed on. Not an Indian was there. Former suspicions 
strengthen. They gather in a circle, and in low undertone in- 
quire of each other, what shall be done ? (Indian sentries no 
doubt all the time were watching them.) The former argu- 
ments are gone over, — a false issue was put upon this lack of In- 
dian faith, and the three Brookfield men strongly urged 
their good will, especially pleading that David, a great friend to 
the English, was one of the chief sachems. 

It was a solemn halt. The order to march, tremulous and 
lialf stifled by the dense thicket is given, and in bodeful silence 
they advance " towards a swamp where the Indians then were." 
It is such a thicket that they can march only in a single file. 



17 

" Al)oiit sixty or seventy rods " are thus tlircailed, when a sharp 
whoDj) pierces the silence — a score of" muskets fhish and mar, 
— arrows wliiz/, ami the thicket is instantly alive with murder- 
ous savages. Yells and war-cries terrify nian and iiorst'. 
Tomahawks gleam, — i^nns blaze, painted warrioi*s spring like 
tigers from lurking places, and the terrors of" an Indian onset 
fill the gloomy defile, — and, alas the result ! Eight white men 
reel and groan in mortal agony. The three lirookfield men are 
among the fallen. They are Sergeant John Ayres, Sergeant 
Joseph I'nteliard, and C'(»r|>()i"al .lolin Coye ; also IMiiliips of 
Boston, Farley of liilleriea, Coleborn of Chelmsford, Smeilly 
of Concord, and llapgood of Sudbury. Five others were 
wounded, among theui both the captains, Hutchinson and 
Wheeler, and his son Thomas. Flight was their only lK»pe. 
One of the christian Indians warned Wheeler, now chief in 
command, not to go back the way they came, as it was In- 
dian strategy to throng the path of retreat, with their 
surest marksman, when 'twas the same as that of apj)roach. 
This counsel, and the adroit guidance by the same Indian, through 
a long circuit from the valley, probal)ly saved the remainder. 
The only prisoner ca})tured by the Indians, was one of the three 
guides, a christian Indian named George. Capt. Wheeler bad- 
ly wounded, was rescued by his intrepid son, who with a frac- 
tured arm, helped his father from his wounded horse to mount 
his own ; and then catching another, whose rider had been 
killed, achieved thus their escape. 

The scene of this bloody ambush cannot be fixed with cer- 
tainty. A recent inspection with Wheeler's narrative in hand 
however, tpiite assures me that tradition rightly j)oints to the 
tlefile from the head of Wickaboag pond, crossing the present 
town line into New Uraintree. Nature seldom builils a l)etter 
tra[t for the use of tlu' Indian warrior than is iuund there. The 



18 

local features visible now, tamed as they are by clearing and 
tillage, meet the conditions of the narrative very fully. The 
deep winding valley, multiplying by its crooks the shelters for 
an ambuscade ; its round isolated hills, — as good as so many 
breastworks to these forest marksmen, — the adjacent summits 
rising tier above tier, so that those posted on them could shoot 
over the heads of those below, upon the victims in the valley ; 
and all overlooking the movements of the troops on the banks 
of the brook, and over all these spread the net-work of woods, 
underbush, crags and broken ledge ; and that gorge equals in 
available facilities for an Indian ambuscade any spot ever ex- 
amined. As it now lies, softened by the culture of nearly 
two centuries, and relieved of what must have been its bodeful 
gloom and hideous grandeur, it is a rare scene for art, ofter- 
ing uncommon combinations of quiet force and rude grace- 
fulness, with aspects well sustaming the tragic gloom which the 
history so painfully requires. 

I cannot but trust that many a homestead here, and of emi- 
grant sons and daughters, will be adorned with careful ]>ictures 
of it, before another centennial day shall recall the bloody story 
which must forever thrill the descendants of the victims who 
perished there. 

The smitten bleeding troops, pale and spent, at last reach the 
houses on the hill-top probably in mid-afternoon. The anxious 
fnmiHes soon learn the terrible tidings. But panic did not be- 
come helpless despair. Into one of those scanty dwellings, 
soldiers, women and children fly, screaming in their terror. 
Mothers snatch their babes from the cradles and little ones cling 
to older ones, and leaving their little all, precious because so 
little, flee to the selected house. A few timbers and boards are 
hastily set about the walls outside, and feather beds are hung 
uj) on the inside. Lieut. Curtis and Henry Young are posted 



19 



ofT f«)r help. Tlic savafjcs meet tliciii. Tliey turn in retreat. 
I'lie victors incensed bv the mutual discoverv chase theuj hack, 
and in noisv fury beset the little fortress. It nmst have been 
an awlul hour to tiie beleairnered iinnates, cut ol' from all lio|io 
of" succor and i'Miorant ot" the nuud)ei"s of tin- bjooil-thirsty 
thron<; outside. .All Impc nuist at fii-st have died within them. 
I>ut Cod was their liel|K'r. After the first storm of shot, there 
was :i check. Only Henry Youn^, lookini^ from the garret 
window, was struck by a bullet. lie died two days after. The 
same afternoon a son of " Sergeant Prichard," (who was left 
among tlu' slain of the morning,) was intercepted, returning to 
his father's house " to fetch more goods out of it'' and cruelly 
slain. As the sun went down, house after house is seen in 
flames. The Indians ])illage and then burn them. Wliat a 
night was that I The poor woiuuied men, weak <Vom loss of 
blood ancl their fearful retreat, are stretched on the floor. Wo- 
men, pale anil haggard, crouch where they can, to avoid the shot 
which came " amongst us like hail." Children, hungry and 
frightened, cling to mothers as helpless as themselves. Seventy- 
five jjcrsons are crowded into not more than four small rooms, 
and " verv meaidv pro\ i<led of c-lothing, or furnished with pro- 
visions," Think of that sun-setting! of the tears and moans in 
that rude house ! Thirty miles from any other ilwelling of 
^vhite men, and not a foot can cross the door-sill but to meet a 
bidlet or the tomahawk ! 

Were the wives and children of Ayrcs, Tritchard and Coye 
there? Hear them beg of the soldiers for a word about their 
slaughtered husbands and fathers ! Did they see them fall ? 
hear any last words from them ? Did the Indians use the 
scalpinii-knife : and what would they ilo with the dead bodies? 
Oh, could they look once nmre on those loved faces, and 
smooth the turf over their manirled forms ! Has Mrs. Pritcliard 



20 

looked throuo;h the little window, and seen that head set upon a 
pole just by the door of her house, — widow she now is. Does 
she know it is the head of her son slain just now, which his 
murderers after " kicking it about like a foot-ball, set it up be- 
fore the door of his father's house in our sight." 

Our fathers and mothers were then purchasing for us these 
lands and homes ! Do we keep in mind the price paid ? 

All night says Wheeler " they did roar against us like so 
many wild bulls," till the rising of the moon near morning, they 
got hay and like combustible matter, and set it on fire, near a 
corner of the house. It was daring work to go out and quench 
it. Two men were hit while doing it. The gallant Curtis 
again attempts to elude the sentries and get to Marlboro' for help. 
The ammunition was lessening, and the Indians growing fu- 
rious at the resistance they meet. He goes a little way, but 
finding the foe so numerous is obliged to return. How their 
hearts sink as he calls for admission at the barred door. Hope 
seems to die in them. But toward morning, touched perhaps 
by some woman's or little child's persuasion, he tries a third 
time, and on hands and knees " was fain to creep for some space 
of ground," and so passed the tired and less wakeful Indians, 
and " though very much spent aiul ready to faint by reason of 
want of sleep before he went from us, and his sore travel night 
and day in that hot season " — he got safely to Marlboro' and 
from thence to Boston. But their God had counsels for deliv- 
erance little thought of by them. Unlooked for helpers were 
on the way for their reHef. Some enn'grants on their way to 
Connecticut coming near the town on Monday, heard the firing, 
and discerning signs of trouble, durst go no farther, but 
hastened back to Marll)oro' where most providentially a troop 
had just arrived, which could go to Brookfield. 

But travel was slow. Tuesday, Aug. 8d. the shooting and 



21 

slioutinrr was kojit up, and being bafTliHl by tbc dauntless resist- 
anee of the Englisli, the savages " resort to taunts, mocking the 
prayers of the people. Some went to the town's meeting house," 
twenty rods distant, and dared the people of the garrison to corao 
out and pray and sing psalms, themselves making hideous 
Bcreeching, " somewhat resembling singing." 

The English muskets did sore work that day on the besiegers, 
and toward evening their dead and wounded were carried oil' on 
the backs of survivors, in sight of the garrison. They again 
tried to hre the house i)y using rags dippeil in brimstone tied to 
their arrows. The roof once caught fire from these, and only 
by cutting through, could the besieged put out the flames. 
This d-.iv too, they pushed a pile of burning flax and hav up to the 
house, and so guarded the door that no way was found by wliich 
to extinguish it, but by breaking down a part of the wall next 
to the fire. A ball of fire was also shot into the garret among 
some flax there ; bnt the '* keeper of Israel " being pleased to 
prosper their entleavors, these dangerous devices all failerl. 

Not a man was hurt that day, excei)t Thomas Wilson, who 
while drawing water was fired at by an Indian who guessed 
liis position behind a board fence. The l)all struck him " in the 
upper jaw and in the neck." " The man aflrighted " says Fiske, 
" bawled out that he was killed." The Indian knowing his 
voit-e, (Wilson was a settler) shouted ^'mr kill major Wilson," 
" but his wound was healed in a short time." 

Wednesday, 4th of August, the third terrible day dawns. 
The savages galled by the shot from the garrison, began a 
counter-work, using" posts, rails, boards and hay " to fortify the 
meeting-house and the barn belonging to the garrison liouse. 
They needed shelter. The firing and yelling diminishes. 
Powiler <ri'ows scarce, and the Eniilish jrrow fearless. The as- 
sailants again turn to the oft-tried project of burning them out. 



22 

A cart was filled with hay and flax, and planks set up in the end 
to shelter those wheeling it up to the house. The marksmen 
in the house, made this of little avail. They next hit upon a very 
promising device. Barrels were taken, poles run through the 
heads as axles, and to these, two strings of poles " about fourteen 
rods long " were attached, truckle wheels being fastened un- 
der at intervals, to hold and bear the poles. The end was load- 
ed with hay, flax and chips. Two of these cumbrous machines 
were fixed, and made ready for use that night. But the Lord, 
who is " a present help in time of trouble," sent first a shower 
which wet the firing stuff and doubtless damped the spirits of 
the savages also. The sun went down on them busy over these 
contrivances ; when " about an hour in the night," or after sun- 
set, the shouts of white men and the bellowing of cattle startle 
both the Indians and the garrison. Major Willard, found at 
Marlboro with Capt. Parker of Groton, and fifty-three men, 
five of them friendly Indians — by a forced march had in a most 
timely hour reached them. But neither party knew the other. 
Willard thought the Indians were in the house, and was about 
firing upon it, when Major Wilson's voice revealed wlio the in- 
mates were. The trumpet was sounded, the doors opened, but not 
too soon, for the Indians discovering the arrival, attacked them 
furiously, wounding two men and killing a horse before they 
could be sheltered. Oh, the joy in that dark, overcrowded dwell- 
ing that evenino; ! 

All night the despairing rage of the assailants was felt. Five 
more horses were wounded in the yard before morning. The 
house reserved by the Indians as a kind of outpost was set on 
fire, that the light from its flames might guide their assaults, 
and toward morning, the meeting house and the fortified 
barn sent their lurid flames into the sultry August sky. Then 
discouraged, and apprehensive no doubt, that their cruel per 



2:{ 



fiilv would 1)0 avenged, the foe, us tlicMlay hmki-, slunk awav into 
tlitir hiding places and were seen no more. That Willard was 
not cut otr in liis aii|)roacii was eniincutly providi-ntial. \lr liacl 
no inroruiation of the treachery or of" the H<;ht. All lu- knrw, 
was from the report of the returning emi<^rants, and all they 
couM tell, was conjecture. Two sentry j)osts lurked unseen hy 
liim on his way ; one probably near the East Hrooktield railway 
station, where the renianis of an Indian fort were recentlv visi- 
ble, and the other j)ei'ha])s not liir from the old three corners 
w here the town-pound used to be. The Indians afterwards said, 
those at the first picket let the troops pass, so that while those at 
the next j)ost attacked them in front, thev would fall upon the 
rear ; but Wheeler suj)|»oses that the main force at the rjuard 
posts had bei-n called in to help <j;et the fiiv-cai'ts in readiness, and 
all were so busy and noisy over them, as not to notice the alarm 
fCuns, and so the deliverers came safely to their almost hopeless 
brethren. 

Thurs(hiy, August 5th, all was still. No trace of the foe was 
seen, save in the sinoulderiurr n-nniants of the Iiiiil(lin:j;s and 
halt-burnt contrivances left behind. The woods were scoured 
but no Indian was found. Two days after, a man was wounded 
by the skulking, wary foe ; and so ended the bloodshed of that 
world-famed scene. Toward the end of the week troojis arrived 
from r>oston, and on the same day Lieut. Cooper reached them 
from Springfield. 

What a story for epic or for drama ! Such heroism, endur- 
ance, suffering I What a theme for pathos or for passion ! " The 
waste and howling wilderness " on every side ; the smoke of 
burning homes lingering in the brands of the huge timbers then 
used ; trees and gardens broken down ; fields pillaged ; cattle 
slaughtered, and, over all, the remembrance of the dead, slain 



24 

by brutal foes wlio found a joy in tlio torture, and a delight in 
the agony of their victims. 

Five days they linger ; and on Tuesday, Aug. 10th, a melan- 
choly train set off from the only remaining house of the settlement, 
Capt. Hutchinson and such of the wounded as could bear the trav- 
el, and probably many of the fifty women and children are in 
it. Marlboro' is the haven of their hopes. Three wearisome 
days, unsheltered by night, scantily fed by day, are spent in 
getting there. It was but ten miiCS a day. The brave Hutch- 
inson was so " overtired with his long journey, and spent by 
his wounds," tiiat five days later, " on the 19th of August " he 
sunk into the sleep from which the war-whoop would no more 
awake him. Next day he was buried, and his dust still sleeps 
in that ancient sister town. Brookfield owes to his memory 
some grateful tablet, recording his rare worth and sorrowful end. 

Major Willard reached his family safely, but died two years 
after, and for nearly a century has borne dishonor from the un- 
accountable story given first, and given only, by Dr. Piske of 
this town, of his being rebuked by the court and dying of a 
broken heart from it, on account of his most humane and gal- 
lant rescue of our fathers. A descendant of the noble soldier, 
has recently very ably exposed the falsity of the report and for- 
ever extinguished the sad slantler it conveyed. 

The dispersion however was not complete. Thomas Wheeler, 
son of the Captain and some other wounded men, and of course 
a garrison to protect, and friends to nurse them remained, and 
Wheeler relates that the " men women and children removed with 
what they had left, to several places either where they had lived 
before their planting or setting down there, or where they had 
relatives to receive or entertain them." Dr. Fiske says " the 
Court ordered the people away." So far from that, the court 
sent men and nuniitions to the garrison. " Major Willard 



25 

stayed at Brookfu-ld some weeks after our coiniiifi; away from 
there, several eorupaiiies of scjldiers were sent up thither and 
to Hadley " says Wheeler, and Feb. 21, 107G : 

" A warrant was ordered to be issued out to y* comittee for 
y" arniv to send away y" jirouissions ordered to ho at the head 
quarters at Marlhorow by y" last day of y" weeke ; also, to send 
vp some litpio'^s & spice, w"' a com|)etency ot" canvas for a tent 
to shelter the proulsions & ainnnition, as also the carpenters 
tooles, navies, «S:c, to build a quarter at Suoboag, or elsewhere, 
w'*' was don." 

In March lti7'», J. Bradiiiii informs the Council of the 
" jeopardous condition ot" (^uobauLi; ;j;arrison," and on the 
22(1 of March 1(!TI3, " Capt. Nath'l Graves of Charlestown was 
appointctl (.'ouinian(K'r of the garrison at lirookfield," with lib- 
erty, " to have 20 men, and 30 horses." 

Probably the settlement was mainly scattered, but the evi- 
dence is full that it was not broken up. The death of Philip 
the lollowinij; Aui^ust (1(570) broke the spirit and strength of 
the Indian [ijot against the settleiN, and altlioUL:Ji fVeipicnt mur- 
ders by them matle frontier life insecure, yet the settlers held 
fast their homes, and others atlventured in time to join them. 

" May 22(1, ItiOl. In answer to the Peticon of the Inhabi- 
tants of Squabaug alias BrookHeld, Colonel John Pi/nchcon, Mr. 
Josc/ih Hairlcif^ Samuel Marshfield, John Hitchcock and Sain'l 
Kly, formerly appointed a Committee for regulating the settle- 
ment of the j)lantation of S<piabaug alias BrookHeld are contin- 
uetl and impowered to that Si-rvice, taking effectual care so to 
diri'ct and order the said Settlement with that compactness and 
neer Scituation of the dwellings, that they may all be drawn into 
a Line of a (larrison, and made capable of di-fence against the 
Inilian and French I'^nemv." 



26 

" May 23d. Mr. Josciili Hawley of Northampton is appoint- 
ed and impowered to Joine persons in marriage in said Town." 

These notices by the court show plainly the non-extinction of 
the settlement. 

An act of the court adds a little light as to their condition, 
thus : — " to Susanna Ayres late of Quaboag, widdow, alijas 
Brookfeild, humbly desiring that what she expended on, and the 
souldjers had of her for y'' countrys vse, as five pounds tenn shill- 
ings in swyne, by Capt. Pooles order, as also seventeen shillings 
and seven pence Ephrajm Curtis had for himself & com])an3'' 
& horses on the countrys account w''^ what Major Willard had, 
which will appear by the account she may be pajd & satisfied for." 

She may have been the widow of Serjeant Eyres, (John 
Ayres) slain in Monday mornings fight at the swamp. 

But the recovery from the partial dispersion was slow and 
cautious. Whatever written history the settlement had accumula- 
ted in those fifteen years, and no doubt records had been made, 
perished in that fiery ruin. 

A stray, torn leaf numbered (5,) as if the fifth of some book, 
gives us the first line of the written story of the Town. For 
its own sake and as a specimen of scores of pages of early rec- 
ords, it is copied : 

" Feby. 24 : 1G8|. Lay'd out To Mr. Wolcott twenty acres 
of meadow and stripes of u[)land and swamp, four acres Lyeth 
on the South side of the Rhode, part Ag'st Josej)!! Wilcot's up- 
land and part adgacint to eight acres which Lyeth more easterly 
onely the parteth it." 

" Also eight acres of meadow Lying on the 7 mile river and 
between the seven and live mile river, l)eing part meadow ; part 
swamp, being the whole ])iece In that neck on the East Side of 
the five mile liivur and to the upland ol' the 7 mile river." 



27 



May 25, 1687, a moasurement of Mr. Wolcott's land is speci- 
fied, and a fjrant of ten acres on the " ])ine plain " was made 
March 3d before. Joseph Hawley was the Rej^ister. This 
recoid, howL'vcr, was not tlie orijiiiial, hut " Taken out of Mr. 
Samiiil Markficld's iueasurin<T Book, Mar. 2, 1710, hy tho 
Comitees' order." 

It is a little surprisin*; that durinrr the seven years followinc; 
the burning of the town, so little trace can be found of it, either 
in the town, or in the court records of the colony. Faint and 
few, no doubt, were the settlers that lin!j;ered anions; the desola- 
tions ami dangers of the place. But in Oct. 2o, 1G!>2, a plain- 
tive and tedious petition was made, " To y" Rt. ITonble his Ex- 
cellency S"" \V"' Phipps, Gov"" of y"^ Majestys Province of y* 
Mass Bay in N. E.," setting forth that " haveing made some 
essay toy'' Reselling s'' place (I'rodklield in y*' Co. of Hainp- 
shire) and fniding difficulties" (drawn out at length, mainly 
that of non-residence of land owners, or as the petitioners state) 
— " of y"' most suteable Land to encourige Inhabitants," they 
pray that all former grants may be null and void unless tho 
htijders " come and bee helpfull in bearing of charges," etc. 
'J'hey also speak " as haveing some encouragement we shall 
speedily have a minestcr of God's Word amongst us." Several 
new names appear on this petition, as Owen, Lawrence, Tomb- 
liu and Marsh. As a resj)onse to this the " Great and Genrall 
Co't ordereil that Jolm Pynehon, Ls([r., Caj)' Sam" Partridi;, 
Mr. Josej)h Ilawley, Mr. Hitchcock and Mr. Mtdad I'liiinv 
be and arc hereby appointed ami Imj)oured to that service " 
(i. e. as a committee) " to din-ct and regulate >'* .settlement 
of s'' j)lantation and the affairs thereat." 

It was during the summer of this year that the Woolcot 
tragedy, so lamed in our annals, occurri'd. Dr. Fiske says, 



28 



two or tliree families were broken up. Doubtless the Indians 
were sucli a terror to the settlers as much to impede the growth 
of the settlement. 

Nov. 24th, 1698 : " The following Resolve sent up from the 
Representatives, was I'ead, and Concurred with, vizt : 

" In Answer to the Petition of the Inhabitants of Brookfield, 
Resolved, That there be Twenty Pounds paid out of the Pub- 
lic Treasury of this Province, towards the support of an Or- 
thodox Minister for one Year, to commence from the time of the 
Settlement of Such a Minister amongst them. 

I consent, 

WM. STOUGHTON." 

Two years more are without record though this committee 
doubtless nursed the infant town with faithful care, and we cross 
into the next century before we meet a further trace. Nov. 15, 
1701, on a tattered leaf marked [8,] is written, " Laid out to 
Goodman Perry a parcel of land." There is an earlier date by 
three days on a leaf numbered [24] in the same handwriting, 
and so through all these Sibylline scraps, disorder is the con- 
stant feature. From under the one quoted is an entry of 
1710. But all these tokens indicate an original book^ (it should 
be re-made,) detailing the endless labors of the committee who 
served the curious caprice of settlers as to " upland " " mead- 
ow " and " plain." For twenty-five years the town records are 
little else than these intricate locations, exchanges and adjust- 
ments of land. Other records were doubtless made, but they 
hare perished in their stormy passage toward us. 

Returning to the colonial records : 

" June 27, 1702. " Whereas the Plantation of Brookfield 
lying on the great Road betwixt this her Majesty's Province & 



29 

tlio Cdlnnv of Ct. iH'inij Ji usual <fe norcssary Sta^f fnr Trav- 
elers Sc post passiiiij; hi'twixt the two (rrauts is anew lK';:inniii<^ 
to 1)0 scttk'il tt yet iinalile to suj)iioi-t itself witliout reeei\ inj^ 
some assistance from the (rov^'mmeiit, hein^ a ( Jarrisoiieil plaee, 
Resolved X20, towards the support of a Chaplain to that Gar- 
rison for the present year be payed out of the public Treasury." 

Next year, Nov. 26, 1703. " Considering the extraordinary 
luipovershing cireumstances the Town of Brookfcild's under 
by reason of the present War," the same sum was voted, for 
"sui)port of the ministry.'' The sanu' wasa^ain voted in 1705, 
" provideil such minister bi' a|iproved by the ministry of the 
Neighboring Towns." In 170tl, Nov. 7, «£20, and — " begin- 
ning yesterday Nov. 15, 1707, <£"20 are allowed towards main- 
taining a minister in said town, provided sueh minister be 
ajiproved by the ministry of the three neighboring towns." 

Until the year 1715, the same generous gifts were repeated, 
so that (the worthy General Court serving as a Home Mission- 
ary Society to the feeble settlement,) the ministry of the gos|>eI 
was probably never remitted for much time. The fruit of that 
pious care is seen in the moral and religious excellence of the 
inhabitants to the present day. 

" Nov. 8, 1710. 10 Pounds granted towards mending the 
Mill Dam in the said Town, and such of the Inhabitants as are 
bv the Enemy driven from their Houses & Livings be admitted 
into the Service as Soldiers that are ca|«d)le thereof & his Ex- 
cellency shall please to entertain : — 

Consented to, J. Dudley." 

" Saturday, .Fune 11. ITll!," X'JO were grante<l 'Mowardsthe 
maintenance of Mr. .lohn .Inines in the work of" the .Ministry at 
lirooklield the vear curr*. Consented to, J. Dudley. "' 



30 



Tuesday, June 16, 1713. The £20 were £rranted "for the 
year current towards the maintenance of the ministry in the 
Plantation of Brookfield." 

June 22, 1714. " In answer to a petition of Thomas Ayres 
&c. Sons of John Ayres some Time of Qiiaboag alias Brook- 
field, diverse years since deceased. Praying that the present 
Committee or some other may be ordered to make Inquiry & 
Cause a Register to be made of the several Lay Rights & 
Proprieties of Land within the said Plantation granted to the 
first & ancient Settlers & others to be entered in a Book for that 
Purpose : — Ordered that the Prayer of the Petitioners be 
Granted & that Samuel Partridge Esq', & others the present 
Committee for Brookfield be directed & impowered to make 
Intjuiry & Cause a Register to be made of the Lay Rights & 
Proprieties of Land within the s*^ Plantation granted to the first 
& ancient Settlers & others, particularly of a Grant made to 
Mr. Phillips some Time Minister of the said place, & make 
Report to this Court ; And the Committee to take Care that 
Provision be made for the payment of Mr. John James late 
minister of Brookfield during his continuance there.' 

" Concurred by the Representatives : — Consented to, J. Dud- 
ley." 

After tedious details in the committee's book of metes and 
boimds, seeming enough to determine every acre of this soil, the 
grateful record is reached of a meeting held Sept. 17, 1714, 
when the Committee, " unanimously agree That the Inhabi- 
tants Build a Meetuig House wherein to attend the worship of 
God, which shall be sett up & erected In s** place where form- 
erly the Meeting House was Built : near old John Ayres House 
Lott, Lying near about the center of The town." An " Exact 
List of the Rateable Estate," was also ordered at this meeting 
and a special rate " for the payment of there minister." This 



81 



liowovor, was tlirco years hi-foiv a ininistiT was settled. Kaeh 
man was recjuiivil also to ^ive a (lav's work to iv|tair tlic Mill, 
or j)av '\ shilHiijTs ; tlu-ii* cai'e for tin- hirad ol' lite, ami tor that 
wliieli ]n'risli('tli thus thuu^litt'iilly Miiitiii;^. 

A year aii<l three iiiniiths al'tei- this, was an eventful day to 
BrookHeld towiishij). '• A iiieetint:; of the Committee was held 
and of ihf: InhabitaiUs also.'' " The Committee then orderi'd a 
Ilij^hway of six rods wide hi- laid out from the |)lace where the 
meeting-house is to he Imilt, down to the uew Count v liodf on 
the side of Coys Brook/' That vote opened the grand avenue 
rlimhing yon nohle hill ; a feature of scenery noticed bv even 
fori'itin visitors. 

The inhahitants on this day, "chose William Old, Edward 
Walker, Ji\, and I^lisha Rise for a eonnnittee to order and to 
take care to carry on y'' huilding a hriflge over Quahoag Rivers 
att Mason's jioint." Another committee were to take a like 
charge of a hridge " att Marks River." But the great act of 
the day, was the following written with a special date and head- 



" The day above s**, The Inhabitants of Brookfeild agreed 
with the consent of y" Connnitte to build a meeting House 
wht'ri'iu to carry on y'' worship of (Jod. In form and manner 
as follows: viz, 4;') foott in Lenght it '"5;") foott in wedht : and to 
put in Galery peices so y* they may build (ialeries when ther, 
.shall have occation, & to cary on the building of s** house as far 
as They can conveniently with y*" Lalxmr, <fe what shall be Re- 
(piired in money for y" carying of .s** work to be Raisid bv a 
Town Rate : <fc if any jierson or jK'r.sons Ri'fu.se to Laboin*, 
Having suitable warning by y"^ eonnnittee Hereafter mt-ntioneil, 
shall pay then- propoi'tion in money. The Inhabitants Likewise 
agree to gett y" Timber this winter," A eonnnittee of nine; 



32 



Thomas Barns chairman, was named " For tlie carving of s** 
work." 

In another place is the record on that day, " that the great 
feild upon y" ])lain shall be sufficiently fenced and att no time 
laid open." This was to preserve the corn planted there ; and 
" a pair of bars or gate at each end were to be kept shut," on 
penalty. This fine common thus was, a century and a half 
ago, the town corn-field I Imagine the"beauty of it. 

A tax of X30 was voted Jan. 4, 1717, " for Glass & nails 
for there Meeting House & Eight pounds for window cases & 
other public uses." 

The next glimpse of this meeting house is in votes, " att a 
Legall Town meeting on Thursday Dec. 14 1721." They out- 
line so clearly the house, the people and the times, that I must 
recite them. 

" Voted ; To build up the seats in the body of y® meeting 
house with good strong plain seats." Pew lots were then voted 
to various persons, and, " Voted : to build a ministry pue on y® 
Right hand of y® pulpit ; to y*^ stairs of Ve pulpit to y^ middle 
stud In the window." Dea. Henry Gilbert: ''a pue next to 
y® ministry pue," and Dea. Josei)h Jennings next to him. Each 
grantor should pay 40 shillings to the town Treasurer, " to be 
laid out to finish the house." Seven years had passed since the 
building began, and it was yet unfinished. On the same day a 
. vote directed the Town's Clerk to gather up, " all the copyes 
of Records belonging to ye Town." 

But to return to the great topic of the records of that period 
— the call and settlement of Mr. Cheney. 

" At a meeting of the Inhal)itants of Brookfield on Apr., y" 
5th 171G. Voted, y' Thomas Barnes \w moderator for s'> Day : 



33 



Voti'd tliat Edward Walkor, Sen., Joscpli Banister and Klislui 
Kisi', I)(Hj furtlier Discourse Mr. Clienev as to his proposals 
lor order to a settlement in s*^ place to carry on y" work of 
the ministry." 

Having considered Mr. Cheney's proposals, the inhahitaiits 
voted, " To (live Mr. Cheney for his salerv, fivety-two jiouiids, 
yi-arly for three years ; and to Rise i'm-ty shillings a year until 
it comes to seventy |)oun<ls, And then to stay." 

\'oted: " To Build him a house & Barn aceonlin;; to v'' De- 
mentions y' he has iriven ; Mr. Cheney providing Glass, nails 
».\: Iron." 

\'oted : "to Break up & fence & titt to sow Eii^lit acres of 
Land: four this year: & four acres To be Broke up on the 
plain this year. The other two acres to be done within four 
years." 

Voted: "To irett Mr. Cheney twenty Hve cords of wo«)d 
yearly his Life time." 

Voted : " To give Mr. (^heney, each man one davs work 
yearly ; for six years. His House & Barn to lu" built in four 
years. Always provided .Mr. Chcnev be our oi'ilained minister." 

" Atireed and allowed bv the connnittee for BrookKeld, May 
10, 1710." 

This committee ajipear to have had a species of ratifying pre- 
rogative, as all j)roceedings at this period have the certificate 
of tlu'ir acceptance. Next comes the fii'st recorded connnunica- 
tion from Mr. Cheney. 

" Gentlemen as to y'' Dimentions of y'^ House & Barn yon 
Propost.' to Build for me. In case I shoidd Settle amongst yon, 
it is my mind i^c desire with Respect to my house : y' y" Lenght 
may be 42 foott. The wedht '20 foott ; as to y" stutl, fourteen 
foott stud vt as to y" barn That it may be 30 foott long, & 20 
foott wide w'*" a Lentow on one side." 

This lioiu vour sei'vant, Thos. Cheney. " 



34 

As to y'' Glass, nnils & Iron T will provide & Procure myself 
so far as Is necessary to s"^ House & Barn. Tlios. Clieuey," 

'' Tiie above s*^ Projwsals were voted on at the meeting Apr., 
5th, in the affirmative." 

A little later the town confirmed a grant made in 1714, 
of three lots of meadow and plain, and then add a gift of 100 
acres more, "to be taken uj) when he shall chuse." The same 
generous spirit re-appears in Mar. 8tli 17^^, "taking into 
Consideration a former grant In the antient manuscrips of 
Brookfeild of Some Land sequestered for the ministry," they 
confirm the same. This was about thirty acres. 

" In the antient manuscrips of Brookfeild," — the great 
longing of men in all times for a past on which to fasten remem- 
brances, and by which to soothe and mellow in its shadows the 
tiresome glare of the present. 

Scarce half a century has passed since the first settler's cabin 
sent its smoke through the thick trees, and part of that time 
dispersion and desolation had been their history. Yet true to 
a great instinct of civilization, they fondly recall " antient " 
records and dignify public acts by revered precedent. 'Tis an 
evidence of that reverent sym])athy with the ]}ast, which virtu- 
ous action always feels, and which this day's celebration con- 
firms and displays. 

Through another vote — Oct. 12, 1716 — the affection of the 
people to the young pastor is shown, and a tradition of earliest 
ministerial services confirmed. " Whereas about 3 years since 
the Gen" Cot® allowed to the ministry in Brookfield twenty 
pounds, of which sum Mr. Elmore who left the ministry so as 
he had but one half part of s'> sum pay*^ to him, there Remaynes 
ten i)ounds of s*^ sum or donation, the Committee judge it 



35 



meet*' this last part lu- jtay'' to Mr. Tlionias Clu-iu'V tlif lUfsciit 
iiiinistiT as part ot" his sallerv, imd have «;iven order to Luke 
llitchcoek Escjr., to n;et the money for him." 

By another act at this meeting;, a pultlic IiuiMiiiix of someeon- 
se(|uence to this liistory is slu)wn. "Sold to Mr. Thos. Cheiu-y 
oiii' prrscut minister, y'' Toimr's I loiisr i\. ahout six acres ot" 
hind it stanils on, tor whieh lie is to sett of, Sc allow unto the 
Inlialiitants thirty poumls of the first Rates that are due to him, 
or will be due." 

Wliat buildini; was this? Onlv the " besie<red house," was 
left standing by the Imlians. Was this a jjarrison built in part 
by the uovernment, and useil at this time for public worship? 
This is the only trace of it. 

The first Tax list appears in April of the next year. One 
hundred and two names and estates are set down in it. The 
hiuhest tax was £-i. lis. Sd. assessed upon Jona. Hamilton and 
the sum of all the taxes was £\'2l. Ss. 

We are surprised at the number of names now fomid in the 
town, but some were j)laiidy those of non-residents, owners but 
not tillers of the soil, and seven of the taxes are on " the heirs," 
of settlers who so early slej)t beneath the clods of the valley. 
The effects of non-resident ownership had becouie ixrievous, 
ami in July :2ti, ITlo, ''the following;, order passed by Repre- 
sentatives Read ami Concurred." 

" Upon Reading a Petition of Thomas Baker, Philip Goss, 
and Joseph Banister, in Behalf of the Inhabitants of BrookHeld, 
Showing that by Reason of the Desertion of the Place by the 
first (irantors, & by the Sale of many Grants since made, Good 
Part of the Latids have fallen into the hands of Strangers, who 
neither improve, nor sell to those who would settle Themselves 



36 



amono;st them, which greatly obstructs their Growth & hurts 
tlioir public Affairs, Especially rendering them incapable of Sett- 
ling & Suj)porting the ministry amongst them. Praying that for 
some few years next Succeeding, and until they shall be more 
capable of Enduring a charge, All Lands, belonging to non- 
Residents as well as others, tho' not under Improvement, may 
be made liable to be taxed in all Town Assessments and that 
the committee may receive direction therein : 

Ordered that for seven Years next coming all Town Assess- 
ments in Brookfield be raised on Polls, as the law directs, and 
on the Real Estates of the Non- Residents as well as the Resi- 
dent Proprietors, Exclusive of Personal Estates, w^ the Com- 
mittee for Settling the said Town are hereby directed & fully 
impowered to levy & collect accordingly so long as they shall be 
continued by this court, and to take care that the Town be 
settled in the most regular compact and defensible manner that 
mav be. Consented to. J. Dudley. 

The evidently strong wish to have a minister settled among 
them met so many hindrances that not until July 16, 1717, 
were they able to fix a day for the act. As that vote, in a sense, 
begins the ecclesiastical history of the town, it claims a place. 

Voted: "That the Reverend Mr. Cheney shall be ordained 
minister for the Town. The Third VVedn., in October next is 
apointed & sett apart For Mr. Cheney's ordination." 

Voted: "That Mr. Tilly Merick & Joseph Banister aQuant 
Mr. Cheney with the Town's mind & as to the day agreed upon 
for his ordination." 

" And now made Return y* Mr. Cheney consents thereto." 

Voted: " That Tilly Merick (& others) Doe take care that 
siu'table Provition be made for such Elders & Messengers as may 
be called to assist in our ordination." " Voted: That y" cele- 
brate & sett ai)art a Day of fasting & Prayer to Im])lore God's 



;^7 



Pn'sciits \v'' us in tliis solemn tfe woifjlity matter, wliich Day ia 
li'it to Mr. Cheney to ai)|)()int. Full it clear votes. 

Test, Thomas (Jilhinl, .Moderator." 

Underwi-itteii is the e\i(ifntly gratified mind of tlie Coiiimit- 
tee who '^ Doe well aprove of" the vote at'ores'' And Kejoyee in 
their nnaminity in so o;ood a work, Sc hope to have furtlu'r oca- 
tioii to Ki'joyee in their <:;ooil settlement." No record is found 
of" the ordination, but the printed sermon preached by Kev. 
Solomon Stoddard of Northampton determines it, and the forma- 
tion of the church. "The duty of GOSPKL MINTSTFJiS 
to preserve a PEOPLE tr.Mu CORRUPTION set forth in a 
sermon pn-acheil at Brookfield Oct., 10, 1717, beiui: the day 
wlu'rein the Church was gathered and MR. TIIOM.VS 
CHENEY was ordained Pastor." 

This was the second cjuu'ch fratherefl between Marlboro and 
the (\>iinecticut River. The tokens of an uiuisual esteem to- 
ward this first pastor, recur in the acts both of committee and 
inhabitants. Through the dim records of the time, we seem to 
discern a genial, ardent ])astor, living in great intimacy with his 
flock. He escaped contention in worldly matters, even to his 
own loss. In 1721, he couimunicates to the town : 

" In answer to a mt)tion from them to have me procure my 
own wood, I being Informed Its your desire I wcjuld do it, it 
aipiit the Town of their obligation in that particular. This is 
to Inform you that I am willing it four or five yrs. for five 
pounds a vear, & not be oblii^ed to take it Louger or to take it 
during mv Life, f"or eight pounds a year. Rather Inclining to 
the f"ormer, which is all at present, from yours, 

Thomas Cheney, Brookfield AjMill "' 18'>." 

In Octobi-r of this year, a note from him acknowledges liiin- 
self 'satisfied and contenti'«l with what Liet. Thomas ( lilliert 



38 



liatli done in tliat way " — i. e. bnilding liim a liouse and barn, 
and discharges the town from further obligation. 

The people agreed to dig and stone a well for him, if he would 
release them from the one days work each man for six years. 
There is no sign of the least disagreement in the record, nor 
does tradition bring us any, until the coming of Rev. Geo. 
Whitefield to the town. Thursday, Oct. 16, 1740, the great 
Evangelist on his way from Leicester to Northampton reached 
the parsonage. The land was astir under the mighty power of 
God upon his preaching. An almost electric force seemed to 
have been given to divine truth through his eloquence. To see 
and hear him was the universal wish. Mr. Cheney's peo- 
ple shared this enthusiasm, and when the great preacher came 
to the town, they flocked to the meeting house. The pastor 
hesitated ; it was an influence he was unacquainted with, and 
rather feared than flivored. But the flock were before the shep- 
herd, and with characteristic discretion he yielded to their de- 
mand ; not, however, before the throng made the meeting house 
too small by far, and around a great rock, said to be Northwest 
of Mr. Baxter Barnes' house they gathered. The wonderful 
preacher began, — kindly saluting them. He was glad to see 
them ; and then passed to enquire for the motives drawing them 
there. " Some of you come to hear what the babbler will say," 
is a sentence remembered by a hearer who went to her rest 
diu-ing the ministry of Rev. Dr. Pheli)s. 

A ereat revivinir of religion ensued, in which Mr. Cheney 
heartily labored and by which the religious character of the 
town was memorably strengthened.* 

*IIis grave is at Brookfield, a few rods from the entrance on the right hand. 

The epitaph reads, " Here lyes buried the Body of the Rev. Thomas Cheney, the 

faithful I'astor of the Church in this Place for more than 30 years. Died Uecr. 
nth, 1747. Aged 67." 



39 



A fow traces of civil history rocal lis nijain to itst-lf. A now 
life, from some source, was visibly iutused into town aH'airs at. 
the lu'ifiiiiiinu of the year 1713. The C'onunittee chosen hy the 
General (^ourt lu'titioiu'ij iur new in('inl)ers, " heini^ niuch weak- 
ened liy the (K-ath of Josr|»li Ilawlcy, Ivscjr." Mr. Ebenez<jr 
Ponu'oy and Mr. Luke Iliteheock were elected. 

At the next nieetin<j new vij^or is apparent. A " list of con- 
ditions to land grants" was dt'ternnned ; as, that tlu' hohU-r 
shouiil '' wtM'k uj)on y*^^ land <xrantt'(l witliin six inoin'ths from v" 
Urant. 2. lie slioiild conu' and live on it within a vear. «3. 
Should live (»u it three years from the ijjrant and fiiilin<^ in any 
of these particulars the grant reverted to the town." These 
decisive terms cpiickened and consolidated the settlement, and 
infused both vigor and conhtlence into improvements essential to 
tlu'ir j)i'ospcrity. Capt. Ponu'oy was a|)])ointed Surveyor, — '* 1 
penci' pr. acrea for Laving out, to bf paid bv the owner^" 
Philip (toss shortly had liberty to build a horse-bri<lge over the 
corner of Wickaboag pond, his neighbors helping in the work, 
and bi'ing relieved of their taxes for so doing. In July, John 
W'ilcutt has a grant of forty acres of upland " IVee," having 
been at great expense in building a grist-nnll, and begun a saw- 
mill '' which will be very BeneHtiall to the Town." Prosperity 
plainly was smiling on the town, and at the end of five yeai-s, 
and in less than one year after the settlement of a minister, such 
was the progress that the (Nmnnittee petitioned '■'• His Lxei-IKn- 
cy, Samuel Shute, ICsip-., Captain (Jen'l and (iovernor in Chief 
ovei- lli^ Majesty's Province of Mass. Bay in N. E.and the Gene- 
ral Court," that the ]>eople of Prookfield, now near Hftv fami- 
lies oil till' |)lace, have near finished a very conveni(>nt Mei'tini; 
House, have settled a church and ordained an orthodo.x ami 



i 



40 

learned minister ; " be made a Township, and said Com. re- 
leased." 

An act granting this petition was passed Nov. 12, 1718, and 
Brookfield invested with all the powers, privileges and authori- 
ties to direct, order and manage all the affairs as other towns. 
The town was assigned to Hampshire for its county connection^. 
It remained a part of Hampshire until the erection of Worces- 
ter County, Apr. 2, 1731, when it was transferred to this, its 
present connection. 

By comparing the population at the dates 1698, when only 
twelve families dwelt here, and in 1718, twenty years after, 
when fifty families were numbered, an average yearly growth 
of less than two families is shown. 

" The Town being Dismist from y® Committee, held its first 
Town Meeting Dec. 15th, 1718." Thus begins the record, — 
" Voted : Lfcft. Philip Goose, Moderator." (If cackling is some- 
times heard in town meetings since, what wonder ?) Thomas 
Gilbert was chosen Town Clerk. " The work of the day not 
being finished " adjourned one week. Mr. Gilbert went to 
Hartford, Ct., to be qualified for his office. 

The next year, 1719, Thomas Barnes and others of the Se- 
lectmen of the town, petition on the basis of an order passed 
May 1701, for a survey and plot for the town " eight miles 
square." The work being done and the plot lost or " mislayed," 
another as taken by Timothy Dwight, Surveyor, is offered for 
acceptance, which was done. 

Thus this matron township had territory enough to spare por- 
tions to the daughters which soon sprung up around her, War- 
ren, New Braintree, Ware ; and more recently the remaining 
domain has been partitioned into the three goodly municipalities, 



41 



— North Brookfii'ld, West Brookliold and r.rookliold ; so that 
the orit;niul " eight miles square " is now parted ainon<^ six 
townships. 

'11 n' next year, 1720, the "Town was of ()])iiii<»n tliat the 
jiower was wholly in the Town to make (rrar.ts of land.' Land 
was almost the oidy sta[)le, the eurrency indeetl between the 
peoi)le. An example occurred in 1722. " In consideration of 
three pounds in nails, (i. e. the nails costin<T three ])ounds,) 
ironi y'' haml of Mi-. Sannud I'ortiT tor use in finishing y"^ Meefc- 
iui: House, the town made a i^rant specified hv hounds, he it 
more or less." Gratitude, as well as economy, is evident in the 
payment. 

A surprise which I am sure others must have while perusini» 
these records as well as myself, is happily relieved hy an act in 
17;'>1, the lirst discovered trace of public care for common 
schools. 

*' Voted. That the Selectmen provid Schooll Dames to keep 
Schooll in y" Seueral parts of the town for 3 or 4 months in the 
Summer Season." 

"Voted. That any numlier of ])ersons that are mindi'd to 
build a Schooll lunise may set it uj) in y" hii^hway or common 
Land, near y" middle of the town." The same " priuiliiic in 
any otlu'r jiart of the Town," was voted to any desiring; it. 
The spelling of the votes sliows it was hii^h time the school- 
master should he abroad. We caiuiot but suppose that schools 
had been kept duriiiii; these sixty years of life in tlu' place. In 
some form, instruction was doubtless jrivcn to the children, or 
this and subsecpient action would not be found, as the care for 
education would have ceased in that lonj^ time, unless fed by 
some rills of instruction invisible to the historian. In 1733, a 
vote of " fifty pounds for y" school for y" ensuing year " is seen. 



42 



Tills settlement ma}'^ indeed have been behindhand with those 
on the coast, and with those in the valley beyond, in the matter 
of schools at the outset ; but the eminence of our public schools 
in recent times, has happily shown a disposition to recompense 
any early neglects. 

Two events of conspicuous consequence appear in the record 
of 1748. The people in the Northeast part of the town had 
grown weary of their distance from the sanctuary, and the 
town being without a minister, by the death of Rev. Mr. Cheney 
tlie preceding year, a design for a new precinct was formed. 
On the 28th of Nov., the petition of Capt. Ebenezer Witt and 
others, for such a division was refused ; but a generous proposal 
was offered by the town to grant the petition on certain con- 
ditions. Probably the election of Mr. Elisha Harding as minis- 
ter, (the other noticeable event of the year,) was a large ele- 
ment in this new precinct question, for a quite tempestuous 
meeting it plainly was, in which the petitioners were repulsed, 
though they voted concurrence with the church in their choice 
of Mr. Harding as minister. The meeting was adjourned for 
four weeks ; and then " after considerable Debat," voted for Mr. 
Harding's " encouragement to Settle in the Gospel Ministry one 
thousand pounds old tenor currancy, & for his yearly Sallry & 
Su])port, the Sum of five hundred pounds old tenor." This 
almost over-generous stipend makes us suspect that the rest of 
the town would pay a free tax themselves, for the sake of bleed- 
ing the petitioners for the new precinct down to quietness 
through their share in it. The negligent orthography of the 
records betrays a sadly discomposed spirit. 

A curious sliding scale was devised at this meetmg for Mr. 
Harding's payment. " Accounting the Same " i. e. the money, 
" as tho' it be in Indian corn at 20s. pr. bushel. Rye, 30*. 



43 



Wlicat, 40.\\ per hiislicl and so tlio X')00 to ho inorcasi'd or 
diininislKMl yearly as the prices of the ii;i"aiiis varied," — a ratlier 
j)eriloiis harixaiii for any l)iit a siiperliimiaii minister, ami I'or 
j)aris]ii()ners, not ot" like passions as we are. There is an ad- 
vance, however, a|i]»arent in adnptinu; a nn>nev hasis fur pastoral 
maintenance in j)lace ot" the entanulini;; land <;rants of earlier 
days. Afterwards, liherty was o;ranted him to cut liis own 
firewood on th'- common land. *■' s'* Mr, Harding not to mak 
wast of s'' wood, especialiv ot" the voniiij; wood." 

Next year, 1749, Sept. 13, Mr. Ilardinii; was ordained. A 
hrief and troubled ministry was liis record. The North-men, 
t. c. men of the north-east j)art of the town, pressed their suit 
t"or parochial separation. The conditions named bv the towfi in 
the November met'tiiiLT were fulfilled in /ess l/inn ten da//s, i. e. 
tifty and more persons, (and bv Dec. -W, eii^ht more) sent their 
personal request for such jieiMuission, as lia<l been prescribed. 
They rested not at that. With an astonishing vigor, on the ')th 
of April, 1740, the trami' of a meeting house was raised on the 
connnon, fronting which. Col. Pliny Nye's house now stands. 
A busy winter tor woodmen, hewi-rs and t"ramer<, it must have 
been — to cut, hew, t'rame ami erect the huge timbei's some of 
us remember in that massive frauu', — all in the short davs of the 
three winter months I It was an energy |)roi)hetic of tliat which 
the iidiabitants of the Nortli parisli have ever shown ; and may 
tliev ne\('r 1)1' behind their ancestors in anv onward ]iul)lie work. 
I5ut this haste made waste. The location was not satisfactory. 
On the Idth of October following, a covenant was signed by 
forty-two of tlie iiduibitants predicating that several persons of 
the proposed parish " have been uneasy in the sitting of the 
Meeting House when* the fram<' now stan<is." Thev engaged 
to abide bv an arbitration ot" ilisinterested men. The men were 



44 



chosen, and decided that the house be built on the spot where 
the frame was standing. Ten years, however, passed before the 
building was finished, and indeed repairing and finishing went 
on together, for in 1764, the precinct " Voted to take the 
shingles off the Roof of the Meeting house and to repair the 
same." 

An act for a Parish Incorporation was granted March 28, 
1750, and a church was embodied May 28, 1752 ; and the next 
year, June 3d, Mr. Eli Forbes was ordained pastor. He was 
a graduate of Harvard College, a class-mate with the eminent 
Judge Gushing and Mather Byles, D. D. In the year of his 
decease, 1804, the degree of Doctor in Divinity was conferred 
on him. His ministry in the " second precinct" as it was com- 
monly styled, ended March 1, 1775. His patriotism was sus- 
pected by his parishioners, and their demonstrations toward him 
were efficient in deciding him to remove. Tradition relates that 
the suspicious patriots one evening followed his chaise, throwing 
stones, and epithets, yet harder to bear. A bag of feathers and 
a pot of tar found on his door stone one morning, determined him 
to resign. An aged lady whose flither was at the church meet- 
ing in which the vote was taken, related to me that on the first 
trial after Mr. F. had stated his reasons, the majority voted 
against his dismission. He then addressed the church in sxich 
determined language that a majority vote was gained. He pub- 
lished an Artillery Election Sermon in 1771, with a somewhat 
testy preface indicating in some of its statements, that the sensi- 
tiveness of his parishioners may not have been wholly ground- 
less. He died in Gloucester, Mass., in the pastoral office. An 
excellent portrait of him has been secured (a copy from an old 
one,) by tlie present pastor of the church. It is in the chapel 
of the First Conjirey-ational Church. 



45 



R('tiiniiii<:j to the first ji;irish, the |kh)j>1(' 1i;uI srarcclv :itt:iiiu'(l 
tlicir composuiv over the se|):iratioii of tlie North j)arislj, when 
a fresh diiKeulty he^aii ainon;^ themselves. In the year 17o3, 
tlie project of hiiildiiii:; a new incetiiiLC house hi'canu' a source of 
troulilc and contention. As often since, tlie ([uestion of" /oin/i/i/ 
(hvided the people. Three loeaHties \vei"e in (hspute ; — tir^t, on 
the top of the hill where the nieetin;^ house thtn stood ; second, 
" on the j)lain," wjiere it now stands ; and tlnrd, " Mr. Seth 
IJanistt'r's lawn," wlu-re tlu' church edilicrs of Brookfield are 
now seen. The people South of the hill would not willin^lv 
go u]) the hill, as they hail done, much less go over it, as desired 
to do ; those West of the hill would go up it as they had done, 
hut would not go over to the "■ lawn." The contest as shown 
in the petitions and projects for precinct meetings was amusingly 
acute, not to sav acrimonious. The /////, einiihaticall\' diriilnl 
the town, in opinion, as well as in territory. Both divisions 
called meetings one after another to act on mere tentative opin- 
ions. A series of these j)reeinct skirmishes at length drew a 
]>ro|K)sal from the West side, to give up "the plain " entirely, 
and to unite on the hill-to|). They were a little too late. The 
South side, with the (.-xample of the North i)recinet before them, 
determined to cut the knot by a decisive act. They set up the 
frame of a meetiuix house "on Mr. Banister's lot,'' in an incre- 
diblv short time, expecting to decide the question^ by doing the 
thiii^-. r>ut tiuilier and self-will W(.'re rather more |ilenty than 
yielding self-sacritice, and before the echo of the hewer's axo 
liad died away, the General Court were moved by the West 
side to arrest proceedings and to send a committee to view and 
advise. They came, and after patiently hearing the parties, the 
ct)mmittee advised a .separation and the erectitm of a third parish. 
Their report was accepted Nov. 8, 1754, but the new house lin- 



46 

gercd in finishing, as did its fellow in the North parish. A 
church was not gathered until April 15, 1756. It was formed 
of twenty-five males and fourteen females. Two years after, 
or May 24th, 1758, Nathan Fiske, A. M., was ordained pas- 
tor. He continued in office forty-one years, and died unattend- 
ed, Sabbath night, Nov. 24th, 1799. "At night he retired 
apparently in good health, and in his sleep, his spirit departed 
to its eternal home." — {Rev. Mr. Ward's Funeral Sermon.) 

His education and talent made him superior to most of the 
men of his time. He became a Doctor in Divinity in 1792. 
He was a classmate of Governor John Hancock. An unusual 
fondness for writing and publishing gave him preeminence over 
any pastor settled in these churches, in the number and amount 
of publications. A famed literary club known as the •' Minerva 
Society," gave occasion for a series of essays by him, somewhat 
in the style of the Spectator., which were published. His his- 
torical sermon, preached " On the Last Day of the Year 1775," 
the first local history written of the town, — though singularly 
inaccurate, yet as a first effort, deserves the gratitude of posteri- 
ty. He erected the house in which Rev. Mr. Stone, his succes- 
sor, lived and died and bestowed upon the Evangelical Church 
and Society. 

The first church, though again reduced by the division form- 
incT the third parish, nobly went forward to build and finish a 
new sanctuary. This was done in 1755. The record is worthy 
a place here. " Jan. 22nd, 1755, Voted, To build a Meeting 
House for public worship at the turning of the County rode 
near the North East Corner of a plow Field belonging to John 
Barns being on the Plain, in said first Precinct." " Voted, 
That said Meeting house be built with timber and wood." 
*' Voted, That the meeting house shall be forty five feet in 



47 



Icn^tli and thirty fivo fl-ft In wcdtli." At tlii^ suinc nifctiiiL: a 
ciniiinittc'c was cliost'ii '' to apiily to the '2nd and :')d Precincts 
in suid town tor tlicir |ir(i|ii)rti(in of ilM,lit in the i)\<\ nicctini^ 
house i'lanie." Animosity to the '• *Jnd Pn-cinct," is seen in 
votes rel'usin^ Jahe/ Uphani, and others, li'ave to be " sett oti" 
to join it. A coniniittee was chosen to tro to General Court and 
resist such petitions, hut in August their rigor was rehixed, and 
the negative votes were " Reconsidered and Disannulled." 

The "' I'ewdoor" was estimated liv a committee — noui' to he 
more than £o 10s. nor less than -5 shillings. This was a j)erio(l 
of vigorous agitations in the now trl|»licated parish, l)ut the 
mother showed marked <lignity and skill in conducting herself 
toward the sensitive daughters. The su|)erior men phn'nlv were 
theiv, and their calmer judgment and iiighi'r character imparted 
jileasing wisdom to their conduct ol" aHiiirs. Hut the lieaving 
tides ot" the time, either hi'ouglit all the latent discontents with 
the pastor, (Rev. Mr. Harding,) to the surface, or gave tempt- 
ing occasion for their utterance. Pending a scheme to assess all 
the inlialiitants of the three precincts, to pay the grant of X(54, 
made to Ml-. IlardiuLi; as settlemi-nt, this signilicant vote is re- 
corded : that " said first ])recinct will relinquish to the third )»re- 
cinct in said town all their right and claim to the Rev. Elisha 
Harding as a minister free and clear of any demands for or 
towards his settlement, provided the said l/iird [trecinct will re- 
ceive the said .Mi-. Harding as a minister." 

Another vote sent Thomas Gilbert to the General Court, for 
their di'termination as to which precinct Rev. Mr. Harding 
"sjiall belong;" and "that there may be nothing said bj the 
Society receiving him as to paving their ])roportion of his settle- 
ment." These votes occur in the first three meetings after the 
organization of the thir^l [)arish, which was Nov. 8, 1754. 



48 



These pointed discontents liad tlieir effect in forcing him to re- 
sign, and Mav 7, 1755, a council of five churches assembled, 
and after tenderl}' but plainly stating his case, terminated this 
never very happy connection. 

In the American Quarterly Register,* he is briefly mentioned 
as " a gentleman of great benevolence, and his public ministra- 
tions were serious and adapted to edify and benefit his hearers. 
He was distinguished for his probity and literary acquisitions." 

Two years after, February 1, 1757, Mr. Nehemiah Strong of 
Hadley was chosen pastor. He declined, because " the encour- 
agement for his maintenance was so slender," — " .£45 lawful 
silver money the first year," to increase to X60 by the sixth 
year, and to continue at that, also " thirty cords of wood, cord- 
wood length and delivered at his door ;" was the offer. In his 
refusal he speaks of the insufficiency of the sum, " in such a 
place, where I shall be necessitated to expend extraordinaries 
in Ways of Hospitality," showing that Brookfield was then, as 
ever since, a favorite stopping place for good men on journeys. 

A call to Joseph Parsons, Jr. of Bradford, the same year, was 
successful, and November 23, 1757 he was ordained. His ex- 
cellent ministry was closed by death in the beginning of 1771, 
in the thirty-eighth year of his age. During the last three years 
of his ministry he was so feeble as to be unable to preach, and 
affectionate references in the records of the time, reveal a mutu- 
al esteem between people and pastor. At the meeting in March 
after his decease, Dea. Thos. Rich was directed " to procure & 
set up at the Rev. Mr. Jos. Parson's grave proper, decent grave 
stones in memory of the dead." Twenty-four shillings were to 
be expended. 

Rev. Ephraim Ward succeeded. He was ordained October 

* Vol. X. p. 53. 



49 

23, 1771, ju><t as till' shadows of the Revolution Ix-rran to darki'n 
the horizon of the land. He was esteemed throut^h his pastor- 
ate, — which was little short of 47 years, — as the urbane Chris- 
tian scholar, illustratiii<j; the frraces of tlu' village pastor. So 
admirably pictured by the godly Herbert — 

" as a tender father 
Doth teach and rule the Churdi and is obey'd. 
And revcronrcd by it, so mnch tlic ratlicr. 
By how inncli he delij^liti'd more to load 

All by Ills own exaniide in tlie way. 

Than punish any wlicn tlioy j;o astray." 

His colleague and successor, Eliakini lMi(l[is, D. D. enriches 
our festival by his presence. He entered on his ministry here 
October 23, 181(), which was the forty -fifth anniversary of Mr. 
Ward's ordination, and shared with him the choice intimacies of 
till.' joint pastorate about two years. Ten years and two days 
IVoni his ordination, October 2'), 1S■2<^ — lu' was released from 
his charge that he might assume the preceptorship of a once famed 
" (Classical Female School," which for some years flo\irishe(l here. 
Rev. Josej)!! I. Foote was installed on the day of Dr. Pheljjs' 
dismission ; memorable for his research and re|)roduction of our 
too long neglected annals, after a ministry ot" nearly six years, re- 
tired, and after some years of labor in otlun* j)laces, died by a 
casualty on the day before which he was to have been inaugtn- 
Qted President of Washington College, Tenn. Of him and his 
several successors, who all now are living, some future annalist 
will weave the chaplet of deserved honoi'S. 

But it is more than time to present a few of the honored cit- 
zen names adorning our histor}'. Joseph Dwight, Brigadier 
General, and judge in the comity court, Berkshire, for a time 
resided here. IIis military career was chiefly in connection with 
the expedition to Louisburgh in 1745. He was one of the gover- 



50 

nor's council, which at that period was an eminent station, and 
connected him with the chief men of liis day. Joshua Upham 
was son of a pli ysician in Brookfield, born 1741. He and Dwicrht 
were both graduates of Harvard College, and from their emi- 
nence, doubtless contributed much to the growth of the town, by 
guiding public attention to it and persuading settlers to choose 
homes here. General Dwight removed to Great Barrington, 
where he died June 9, 1765. Quite early in life Judge Upham 
(as he became), built here one of the first woolen factories ever 
attempted in this country, (17G8.) 

The great colonial contest for freedom with the mother coun- 
try found him a loyalist, or tor}^ as then styled. This removed 
him to Boston, and soon after to New York, where he joined 
the British army, and served as aid-de-camp to Lord Dorchester, 
and afterwards colonel of dragoons. In the service of the Prov- 
ince of New Brunswick he went to London in 1807 and died 
there the next year. 

Judges Dorr, Merrick, Crosby and Foster, all mingled freely 
in town and parish affairs, imparting their culture, wisdom and 
energy to its proceedings, and communicating the honors of 
their high official stations to their town homes. 

Joseph Dorr, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas and Judge 
of Probate, came to Brookfield from Ward — now Auburn. 
He graduated at Cambridge, 1752, and after filling several 
jiublic stations died in this town October 31, 1808, aged 78. 
Pliny Merrick was son of the minister of Wilbraham, where he 
was born September 14, 1756. He graduated at Cambridge, 
1776, and studied divinity with a clergyman in Springfield, and 
preached occasionally for several years. His feeble health hin- 
dered him from settlement. To improve it, he spent two years 
as a teacher in Virginia, and finding no essential benefit, re- 



'A 



turned, and after tlic requisite study of tlie law at Hrid^ewater, 
was adiiiitteil to the Bar in Plymouth County, 17tS7. In the 
spring of 17*^'^, lie eaiue to Brooktield, where he reniainr(| until 
his death, .Manli "J, 1N14. lie was niadt' .lustiee <>t' th*- Court 
of Sessions in 1807, and chosen Senator for the county in 1808. 
His residence yet stands next to the first Meetini:; Ihnise of the 
lOvangelical Conj;re<;ationaHst Church. He used to express his 
<:reat attachment to his pastor, — Rev. Mr. Stone, — by saying 
that if anv man spoke i-vil ot' him in his j)resence, he woidil in- 
stantlv knock liim down. He had Hved in V^ir^inia I 

Oliver Crosby, a native of Brooktield, b»)rn Jiwu', 17'»'», be- 
came a justice of the Court of Conunon Pleas in 1814, and the 
next year was elected a Senator for the county. Thonii;!i not 
publicly educated, he raiseil himself to rare emi?ience by self- 
culture. He was for some years one of the chief uku of Brook- 
field. His decease occiu'reil July 24, 1818. 

Jabez Upham, son of Phineas, was born in Brookfield. By 
self-exertion he ijained a de<j;ree at Cambridge, 178.5. He at- 
tained distinction as a lawyer and was twice elected Represent- 
ative to Congress. 

But the name ever preeminent in the annals of Brookfield, 
is that of Jeilediah F'oster. From that home of good men, the 
town of Andover, he canij here to b.'gin his public life not far 
from 1745, graduating at Cambridge the preceding year. He 
was chosen Major of forces raised in 1T51, when the Fri'urli and 
Indians endangered the country. In the '* Provincial Congress " 
he had a seat, and the people chose him colonel before there was 
a <rovenunent to issue conuuissions. He was .Jud<ie of Probate 
and of the Supreme Court. In March 177'.', he was in the 
Convention at Cambridire, assembled to form a constitution, and 
one of the committee for drartiuLT it. But his citi/.en character 



52 



sliould be specially commemorated in these pages. The perusal 
of our records will show that no man has ever dwelt amoncr us, 
who held so many local trusts, — lived in such intimate sympa- 
thy with the people, cared for and served them so abundantly 
and excellently, — and yet so far excelled them in station and 
character. He projected and carried through more that is to be 
prized in our town life, than could be recounted for hours. In 
chui'ch affairs, and for a time, in civil concerns. Deacon Henry 
Gilbert is more frequently visible ; and he and his descendants 
may justly claim an estimable preeminence in the early histo- 
ry of the town. Their ancestry and posterity were alike honor- 
able. Sir Humphrey Gilbert, seen in history in company with 
Sir Walter Raleigh, is supposed to have been among the ances- 
tral connections. 

No one perusing our early records will fail to see that Fos- 
ter and Gilbert bore the trusts of the town more fully by far 
than any other citizens. We esteem that to be the highest style 
of citizen manhood which gains and holds the affectionate con- 
fidence of the worthiest of the common people through all the 
tests of every-day life ; and at the same time finds high position 
given to it among eminent statesmen, jurists and scholars of the 
times. Few men more completely unite these conditions than 
Judge Foster. Let an illustration of each class suffice. Some 
years before his death the church in this town made choice of 
him for deacon, — "He suspended his answer," say the records, 
" till the church consented to introduce Tate and Brady's Psalms, 
on trial, then gave it in the affirmative." Thus he achieved a 
reform in that proverbially sensitive part of public worship, the 
singing, and that in a somewhat stubborn generation, by coupl- 
ing a sacred public benefit with his acceptance of a humble of- 
fice which his station in life enabled him to honor by accepting, 
ratlier than to derive honor from it. 



58 



The otiior illustration : — As the Provincial Conrrrcss at Phil- 
adt'lphia was (lis])i'rsiM<^, in 177o, General Washington iiKjuired 
who wore the Massachusetts m^'U on whom he could especially 
relv in the <;reat strufTfrJe before th(? colonies. Mr. l-'oster of 
Brookfield was naini-d aimm^ others as one to whom the Coni- 
mander-in-Chief could confiile his counsels, and from whom he 
could exjject unwavering fidelity as a jxitriot. A man so mi- 
nutely careful for the welfare of a village church, and so wise 
in advancinjx its prosperity, and so l)eloved hy them ; aM<l marked 
in the distant council chaml)i'r of the comparatively unactpiaiiit- 
ed colonies as one of a few u|)on whom the newly chosen chief 
could place special trust, jM'esents a character of eminent com- 
pleteness and worth. It deserves our afiectionate, reverent 
honor. We ou<j;ht to devise some memorial to keep his name 
on the lii)s of generations; some hroad avenue, some prized 
school, or puhlic in«;titution dear to the hearts of the people and 
rich in benefits common to all. 

In the other precinct, the North, at that period, the names of 
Avers, Bifjelow, Hale, Gilbert, Adams, Witt, Potter and others 
were borne by nuMi of comprehensive enterprise, and of i^reat 
executive force of character. They were really choice nieii for 
framino; the ])recedents, and jnittiufj in motion a well-ordered 
and efficient town life. They deserve a fuller tribute than will 
ever be written of them. 

Passiui^ the inieventful lull, which followed the stormv dozen 
years in which date the division of the town into thn'e precincts, 
— the buildiuix of three meetiuii-houses — the dismission of one, 
and the settlement of three new ministers, — a docket of labors 
deserving a period of repose — we reach the first recorded tokens 
of the Revolution. 

May 17, 1773 a meeting was held. Jedediah Foster, moder- 



54 

ator, — to choose a committee to send " A Letter of thanks to 
the Town of Boston for their care in Stating a list of the In- 
fringements and Violations, of Rights * * made by the Coui't 
and Parliament of Great Britian, and to show that the town 
fully concur with the Town of Boston in Sentiment, etc." 
Names from each of the precincts are on this committee. The 
letter, doubtless from the pen of Foster, after being twice read, 
was recorded on the books, and sent to Boston. One sentence of 
this letter shoidd be in every Brookfield household. " This 
Town will ever be ready to assert, and in every legal and prop- 
er way maintain those Rights and Liberties for our children^ 
which were with so much Labor, Blood and Treasure, purchased 
by our ancestors whose memory is and ought to be esteemed by 
us." 

The patriotism of the entire document seems at this distance 
almost sublime. It would touchingly befit a town meeting dur- 
mg the iniquitous rebellion raised by the oppressors at this day. 
December 27, 1773 a meetino- was held and two letters from 
the town of Boston were read. Foster, Baldwin, Rice, Ui)ham 
and Gilbert, were chosen to consider and report a proper re- 
solve relative to the importation of tea from Great Britian, 
" And such other matters as are proper for this town to do at 
this difficult time." 

" In about one hour," the committee returned and reported, 
(after preamble,) " we think it our indispensable duty in the 
most public manner, to let the world know our utter abhorrence 
of the last and most detestable scheme in the introduction of tea 
from Great Britain, to be pedled out among us, by which means 
we were to be made to swallow a poison more fatal in its effects 
to the natural and political rights and privilege of the j)eople 
of this country than ratsbane ivould be to the natural body. '^ 



66 



Alas for the China sots, tlio jiridc of our iiintluTs ! This 
Iturst 1)1" j>.itrioti(' rhetoric, however, is followi-il h\' seiiteiict's of 
ii<>I)K'i- patriotism. '■'• l>()yalty & lidelity to our most gracious 
Kino;, George the I'hiid, vt (hie oheiHenet- to thi' ;j;ovcrnmeut 
under him, l)y Divine Providence & hy Law established in this 
Province, we will to the utmost of our power maintain and div 
fend. An uninterruptetl Friendship & Commerce with the 
Country of our Fatliers' nativity, we wish to continue to the 
latest Generation ; hut our ilcar bou'j^ht rights i^ jiriri/e^-es we 
iri/f wrrr himilij ^irr up." h'urther on they say, " of (Mir 
dearest civil & religious privileges when wrested from us, we 
shall not think our lives and property too much to be spent in 
their defence and recovery." The self-denial and determined 
sacrifice in those woi'ds, prophesied, as they deserved, the suc- 
cess which crowned the weai'isome strife. 

In May 1774, another letter, much like the former, was sent 
to lioston. " June 21. At a very full meeting of the inhabit- 
ants," — after reading several letters from committees in Boston 
ami Worcester, — three citizens were de]iuted *' to wate on the 
Kev. Mr. Ward, and desire him to attend and oj)en this meet- 
ing with j)rayer, antl the recjuest was complied with in a very 
sollom manner." Letters and covenants were then read "and 
long debate thereon." A number of persons signed the cove- 
nants. A connnitti't' of six were chosen " to inspect the 'i'raders 
of this Town and see that they do comiilv with the covi-nants, 
and to see that every person had the oiler of signing the cove- 
nant, and also to take care that pedlars do not sell any goods in 
this Town." 

These patriotic fowu mir/in^s wi-re frcMpient, ami in them 
instruc-tions to lve|>ri'sentatives and other ofKcers, very ably 
tiiawn; correspomlence with tlu' chief towns, and hx-al com- 



56 



mittees, all sliow the presonoe of active and stronj^ leaders. 
Jedediali Foster was chosen Representative to General Court, 
and in December to a Provincial Congress to be held at Cam- 
bridge ; and at the same meeting " Voted unanimously, that 
this town do fully approve of the association of the Continental 
Congress, and that they will strictly adhere to the same in all 
respects." Also voted, That the ministers be desired to notify 
contributions for the Boston sufferers, and David Hitchcock, 
John Baldwin, and Seth Banister, Jr. (one from each precinct,) 
were chosen to receive the same and transport them to Boston. 
A corps of minute men was resolved on, to " be immediately 
equiped with an effective fire-arm, cartridge box, knapsack, and 
thirty rounds of Powder and ball," and that they should " take 
extraordinary pains to acquire the skill of compleat soldiers." 
These were in addition to the regularly enrolled militia. Gen- 
erous provisions for paying these minute men for training time 
was also made. A curious covenant, as 'tis styled, was drawn, 
to which one enlisting should subscribe. The heart of the town 
was swelling with the keen tliroes of fear and determined sac- 
rifice if called to it, in the coming contest. Town meetings 
were frequent, and " long debate," is a repeated description of 
them. In reverent admiration and surprise, we come upon the 
records of a meeting held May 22, 1776. " The question was 
asked in the words of a resolve of the General Court whether 
this Town would support tlie Hon'ble Congress in the measure 
if they for our liberty should see fit to declare the colonies In- 
dependent of Great Britain, and it passed in the affirmative al- 
most unanimously.'''' Honor to the Brookfield patriots ! Their 
declaration of Independence, is one month and twelve days 
older than that of the Congress. Foremost in declaring, may 
they be the last in resigning or betraying the priceless Free- 
dom so gloriously won ! 



57 



Near tlie close of this year (177G) a record of siiifjular in- 
terest occurs. A bounty of £00 is levied to be paid for " one 
liundred fire-arms with a bayonet affixetl thereto, j)rovided they 
are wholly nianutaeturiii in this town within one year." Where 
was the Brooktield armory, and who made muskets and bayo- 
nets here eiij;iity-four years ago ? 

At the March meeting next year (1777), it was " Voted, 
That the Town may wear their hats excepting when they sjieak 
in publick in Town meeting." At the same meeting " A list 
of tile j)rice of articles" was ado])ted. These lists, connnoii to 
the towns at that time, were faUil checks to speculators and mer- 
cenary plunderers of the public in the time of general distress. 
A few of the items will repay copying. 

" Farming labour, — from the 20th day of June, to the 20th 
day of August, shall not exceed 3 shillings per day, and from 
the 20th day of Nov'r to the 20th day of Jan'y, shall not ex- 
ceed Is. 6(1. j)er day. Indian corn meal shall not exceed oS. 
per B'., good grass-fed beef 2^ j)ence per lb., stall-fed do., 'id. 
Good butter, 9^ pence per lb., firkin do., 8| per lb. Good yard 
wide Tow cloth 25. per yard. Striped y'd wide flanel 3s. Ad. 
Good Walnut wood 8 ft. long, Ss. j)er cord. Oak do., 7s., 
" each cord to be delivered at the door of the buyer." " A 
good meal of meat victuals of the common sort shall not exceed 
ikl.'" " For making men's shoes shall not exceed 2s. Sd. per 
paw." " A Doctor shall not exceed ijil. (sixpence) j)er mile in 
his charge in travel to visit his Patience." " For men's com- 
mon boarding by the week shall not exceed 7s.'' In suggestive 
sagacity the prices of N. E. t()d<ly and " jihlip " and other 
strong drinks are put at the foot and most obscure part of the 
long file, as if they were the last articles ever to be needed or 
bought. Well for the town had they been always so. How 



58 



long this mnnicijxil protection was kept in force, or wliat special 
good came from it, does not appear. 

But, keeping step with the progress of freedom, in April, 
1777, " Voted, That the inhabitants of this town will not only 
strictly adhere to and observe the act of the General Court 
called the Regulating Act, But also use our utmost endeavors 
to detect and bring to punishment those unfriendly selfish per- 
sons who at this important crisis shall have the effrontery to 
counteract the good and wholesome laws of this State." In 
November of this yeav a committee of nine persons were ap})oint- 
ed " to provide for the families of the non-commissioned officers 
and soldiers that are in the Continental Army." The next year, 
March 25th, 1778, " Voted to accept of the Confederacy of the 
Continental Congress and to enjoin it to their (our) Represen- 
tatives that they consent to the same." And in the same ready 
mind, the next year. May 20th, 1779, they voted for a State 
Convention " for the sole purpose of forming a new Constitu- 
tion." In October of this year, a shadow spread over the town 
in the death of the Hon. Judge Foster. From the bejrinning 
of the great era of struggle for National Liberty, he is con- 
stantly seen, not alone presiding over, but shaping and adminis- 
tering the counsels of the town. The public mind safely trust- 
ed in him in those dark hours, and with eminent wisdom and 
fidelity did he guide the confiding people. We can hardly over- 
rate the pressure upon the inhabitants at that time ; one man in 
seven in the North precinct had been drafted, and not much 
different could it have been through all the town. In the year 
1777, they voted " to raise no money for schooling," so far spent 
was their revenue ; and four years after, they were obliged to 
hire money to etpiip the soldiers before they could leave town 
for the anny. But Divine Provitlciice (Ud not leave the peo])le, 



59 

led throu^rh so many deliverances, without the needed Imdere. 
The year of his father's deatli, DwiLjht Ft)ster, — horn in IJrook- 
field, Dec. 7, 17 ')7, graduated at Brown rnivcrsity (1774,) a 
lawyer for a time in Providence, K. I., — returiu-d to his native 
town. He was a young man of raiv proniisr and his townsmen 
discerned it. At tlie town nu-eting in .May, " \''ote(l : .Mr. 
Dwight Fc»ster, Moderator, 14;] yeas in favor of the new Con- 
stitution and 11 against it ! " This curt record shows liis first 
])uhlic service, — the highest tlie town could confer ; and at al- 
most the first o|i|ioi-tunitv aftei' his i-ctuin. Revert'iiei- for the 
father th)uhtless (juickene<l the heart of the people to h<inor the 
son. It was an auspicious omen to preside in such a meeting at 
the outset of his puhlic life ; and three weeks later. May 24, he 
was chosen to represent the town in General Court. He was 
then '2'2 years of age. At the same nieetmg a long ami states- 
man-like dorument was read, said to he in his handwriting. It 
relates to the ratification and adoption of the Constitution for 
the State. He was chosen delegate to the convention held in 
Boston the ne.xt month, "To complete the Constitution and 
Frame of Governnuiit." His great eminence came from laho- 
rious industry, " rising- before il was liixhl " for stuily. He was 
a model to young men, in method, order, promptness and the 
great facility in the management of business, which come from 
it. " Though of delicate and uncertain health " he accomplish- 
ed much. In addition to the honors named, he was the succes- 
sor of Judge Sprague in the ofHce of High Sheriff of the Coun- 
ty, — Chief Justice of the Court of Common i)leas, for ten years, 
— an Elector of President and Vice President wdien Washing- 
ton was chosen Chief Magistrate the second time, — a member 
of the Governor's Council, — a Representative in Congress from 
1793 to 1801, and a Senator during the two succeeding yeai's. 



60 



He died April 29, 1823, at the age of sixty-six. Hon. Jabez 
U})ham shares with him the honors of representing the State in 
Congress. Mr. Foster alone of our citizens, had a seat m the 
Senate. 

In 1781, the town was districted by Parishes, as the precincts 
are thereafter styled. This was done in order to raise soldiers 
for three years, and committees were chosen to enlist and hire 
men. They were empowered to " hire such sum or sums of 
money " as they needed. The enlistment of Continental soldiers 
was a work of conspicuous concern during this period. 

As the tasks of the Revolution were ending, the new ques- 
tions of self-government engaged anxious attention. Entire 
pages of the records are filled with reports and resolves upon 
the fundamental question of civil government. Numerous and 
elaborate instructions were drawn up for representatives. One 
is " To the Respectable Capt. Phinehas Upham our Representa- 
tive." 

In 1784 the representative is most loyally instructed thus — 
*' Thirdly, It is the opinion of this Town that the articles of 
Confederation and perpetual union between the Thirteen United 
States, being ratified and established by each State in the Union, 
are solemnly binding on the several Slates : atid that no attempt 
ought to be made to dissolve or vjaaken the same ; but on the 
otluu* hand if we mean to support our dignity as a nation, every 
effort ovght to be used to strengthen the Union and render the 
Bonds indissoluble.^^ 

This specific instruction might usefully be copied for not a 
few representing the people at this day. Infamy, endless infa- 
my be on the heads of sons who, after all these years of blessing, 
have degenerated to traitors to the noble town-meeting loyalty 
of our fathers. 



61 



In 178'), a division of the county was urfred hy tlio towns in 
tlie north part. A h)n<i and able protest was presented against 
it by Foster, Hall and Uphani. 

The Shays rebellion has littK' jdace in the town records. 
Many of the citizens served as soldiers, and tiu'i'cbcl leader him- 
self had served as a hired man with Daniel Gilbert, Es(jr., in 
the North Parish. 

A violent attack of economy was experienced by the town in 
May of the next year. "Voted: That the person who shall bo 
chosen to rej)resent the Town shall return all the money's ho 
sliall receive over and above 5c/. per day for his services at the 
General Court, exclusive of travellin*]; fees, to the Treasiu-er of 
said Town ! " 

In 1791, the ((uestion of dividing the county a^ain retui'ind, 
and the selectmen of eleven adjact'ut towns were to be iiivitiMl 
to call meetings in those towns to choose committees to a con- 
ference to be held at the house of Joseph Reed, Esqr. No re- 
sult appears on the records. In October of this year is found 
the first recorded warrant for a meeting. 

In 1799, an article in the Town warrant shows that Nicholas 
Jenks and others had prayed to be incorporated as a separate 
religious (liaptist) Society. A protest was vote<l against it, 
because the petition was in its j)rinciples exceptionable and in its 
operation would tend to the injury not only to the iidiabitant-s 
afiircsaid, but ot" the society themselves. It states the " opin- 
ion that the rights of conscience ought ever to be held sacred, 
and that all denominations of christians demeaning themselves 
peaceably have an inalienable right of worshij>ing their Creator 
agreeably to its dictates." The protest failed and the liaitti^t 
Church and Society of East Brookfield is the result of the 

petitioners endeavor. 




62 

Tlie century closed under the shadow of tliat great national 
bereavement, which also closed an era, the death of Washington. 
The town with patriotic reverence called its eminent citizen, 
Hon. Pliny Merrick, to pronounce an eulogy on the beloved 
Fatlier of his Country ; for which service done on the 22nd of 
February following, he received " the thanks of the inhabitants," 
with the request of a copy for publication. 

This century of town-life begmning as it did, amid savage 
tragedies ; the settlement in the wilderness far from neiglibors ; 
with no extended natural feature, like sea coast, great river, or 
national road, and vs^ith no surpassing soil, or forests, or mines, 
was yet a remarkably prosperous century. 

Superior personal character can safely be claimed for many 
of the early settlers. Their enterprise, wisdom and culture, 
gave the town a memorable eminence among the sister settle- 
ments which, before the close of the century, surrounded it. 
The names of Gilbert, Foster, Hale, Merrick, Crosby, Upham, 
Ayres, Reed, Hamilton and Hitchcock, are set in our early his- 
tory by counsels, acts and beneficent public influence, which 
would adorn any annals and ensure success to any rising settle- 
ment. These are but a part of the names that claim the grateful 
esteem of the posterity enriched by their endurance, wisdom and 
sacrifice. Each, family discerned through the deepening shadows 
now settling on them, seems almost entitled to special mention. 
The municipal acquirements found among our fathers rather 
surprise us. No roads, bridges, or large city from which to 
bring the implements or fruits of mechanism aided them. Until 
about the close of the former century not a wheel vehicle had 
passed from the River to Boston. On horseback all riding was 
done ; antl as horses were few, the roads blind, crooked, rough 
and perilous, travel was slow and infrequent. A short distance 



r>8 



miulc a \im(i and iicriluus jouniov. We wonder at the rdpitl, 
lint at the sluio j^rowth of the town. The century had bi-i-n 
truly a prosperous one. Tlie town was well advanced in cul- 
ture and nu'chanic arts at tlie close of it. "Seven ^'rist-niiiis, 
six saw-mills and three i'ullin^-niills," were counted in it ten 
years before the new century began. " Mr. Jenks," says an 
annalist, " besides his mills prosecutes the blacksmiths' business 
lar<:;ely, and has two trip-hammers and a grindstone carried by 
water." '* Ellis & Company," he adds, " annually dress alxjut 
5000 yards of cloth at their works." They had reacheil the art 
of coloring scarlet, eipial to that imported, " an art which few 
in this commonwealth have attained unto." Earlier is narrated 
the establishment of " one of the first wolK-n factories ever at- 
tempted in this country " by Joshua I'pham in ITtJS, mid the 
bounty otlered for one liuiKlred nuiskets manufacttu'ed in the 
town, show a remarkal)le advance in those trades. Watches 
were made in the South parish by Mr. Ephraini Kingsburv, 
about 1790, several years before they were made in Worcester. 
Mr. Cyrus Dean, now living in Mrookfield,* U-arned his tradt- of 
that watclnnaker, and still occupies the original shop. A Print- 
ing Press was set up here by Isaiah Thomas of Worcester in 
1794, " a Printing Mouse and Bookstore," he termed it. In 
coiniection with an apprentice named Waldo, a news|)aper was 
ollered to the pulilic in Si>ptenil)er of that year, called "The 
Worcester Intelligencer or Brooklield A<lvertiser." This name 
gave place to " The Moi'al and Political Telegraph or I>iook- 
field Advertiser." The ownership and title were again changeil 
to " The political Ilepository and Farmer's Journal, by E. 
Miiriam & Co., 1708." But a short life was the portion of the 

• While these paj^cs arc in press, Mr. Deun ilii><l at BruoktieM, August 'JOth, 
1SS6G, rtged 8;i years. 



64 

varied experiment. The editors strangely overlooked local 
news ; or what are now items of interest have only brief men- 
tion. Thus: — " Tuesday, March, 26, 1799, the President of 
the United States lodged in this town, on Thursday night last, 
on his way to his seat in Quincy." No more is said. A re- 
publican quietness toward dignity, truly ! The numbers I have 
seen relate very little of affairs in the town or region. The 
"business and bosoms" of the inhabitants are very dimly visible 
in the columns. The letters by Post, however, are all publish- 
ed. The office here served for people in Paxton, Hardwick, 
New Braintree and ajl the Brookfields, and even then the week- 
ly list is smaller than some single establishments now receive in 
as many days. To the honor of the newspaper, an enterprising 
article, a column in length, is found in 1799, advocating and 
projecting a canal from Worcester to Providence^ R. I. Thirty 
years after, the vision became a reality. But though the news- 
paper failed, the printing did not. Ebenezer Merriam carried 
on the business of printing books, etc., for fifty years, dying in 
1858, at the age of 80. That " Printing House and Bookstore " 
were educators for all the region. Many of us remember the 
curioue awe felt as we walked by the long, low, old and unj)aint- 
ed " Printing House." A mystery which stimulated the finest 
aspirations of young and growing minds was upon it. Well do 
I remember how precious a single capital P was esteemed, which 
a lad had brought from the " house." The spirit of knowledge 
seemed to lurk in the dull lead. The town is indebted to the 
enterprising man who kept that humble lamp burning here 
through all those years, and in addition to all other benefits, 
trained and sent from it, that trio of sons who have put the 
whole English speaking world under obligations by their grand 
enterprize, the publication of their unrivalled Dictionary of the 



r,5 



English LaniTuape, by NrKili Wubster ! Their successor in the 
art may bo crt'atin<^ obIi«^ations on posterity by framin«; into tlie 
j)riiitecl i)a<^e the records you are now perusinj^, grateful reader. 

For the early settlers, there were but tew jihvsical cninlnrts. 
The stern necessities of life were very scantily softened in tlicir 
])ressure by wliat we term comforts. Coarse was their fare, 
rough and scanty their garb, and very rude their dwellings. 
What to us would be extremely plain food was nearly luxury to 
till in. The seai-iity of cattle made meat uncommon in tlu- diet 
of the early inhabitants. And groceries, as we term them, coidd 
scarcely have been known. Birch bark for ])ai)er and a decoc- 
tion of alder bark for ink, was the outfit of many a brave boy 
and sj)rightly girl even after schools were established by law. 
Through all the earlier years an t)vershadowing dread oj)pre.ssed 
the dwellers. Memory and imagination thronged with visions 
of lurking Indians, and the boundless forests on every side (»f 
them was indeed " a land shadowing with wings." The howl 
of the wild animal, the inexi)licable sounds and sights coming 
from the unpathed woods, and the fabulous terrors told over, 
in the grim, cavernous chimney corners, all conspired in diffusing 
a secret and oppressive dread. It was a century of ghostly 
tales. The traces of an old cellar are still visible, where dwelt 
a reputed witch whose incantations were credulously reciti'd in 
niv boyhood. It was in a wilij forest far from other dwi'jiings. 
Ima<'inative and irreligious people felt those delusions more than 
others. 

But an intensified social dejiendence and confidence in each 
other, brought some compensating reliefs. Neighbors valued 
each otlier in a manner unknown to us. They cared for, pro- 
tected and loved one another, and hatl the rewards of it. Few 
families were blighted by drunkenness or by any vice. A drunk- 



66 

ard, or a broken character was an abhorred anomaly, we be- 
Heve, for the first fifty years. Life, too, was long and vigorous. 
In 1782, a Mr. Green, above 90 years of age followed his fifth 
child, a woman in her 62d year, above four miles to her grave, 
" ridino- erect and steady on a lively horse." He died in New 
Hampshire, above 100 yeai's old. In the same year, 1782, died 
in tliis town, Elizabeth Olds, in her 92d year. She counted 10 
children, 73 grand-children, 201 great-grand-children, and two 
of the fifth generation ; two of her daughters being grand- 
mothers, making a total of her descendants 286 ; and of these 
all but 54, or 232 were living at the time of her decease. About 
the time above mentioned, the last survivor, as was supposed, 
of Lovewell's fight of May 8, 1725, Avas living here, Mr. 
Thomas Ainsworth. He died January 1794, aged 85. 

These narrations suggest another feature of our towns, — the 
burying places. The world over, parcels of ground devoted as 
resting places for the dead, are found ; though in many neigh- 
borhoods the less secure and less natural mode of private or 
home lots are seen ; and generally from change of occupants, 
fallen into unsightly neglect, or on their way to it. Such a 
burial place is scarce to be found in the original Brookfield. In 
the true friendliness of fellow mortality, dust mingles with dust 
in common grave-yards, rather than in selfish, isolated little en- 
closures scattered over all the lands. The place of the earliest 
burials here is not known. Tradition indicates that it was near 
a road connectino; the Foster Hill with the main road east of the 
meeting house. An aged citizen, Mr. Pelatiah Hitchcock, who 
deceased some yeai's ago, was accvtstomed to point out the graves 
of the six men, (slain in 1710, in the meadow Northeast of the 
present Railroad station,) near the entrance to what is known 
as the old burying ground. Two men killed by the Indians 



♦)7 



between West and North Bn)okfield are said to have Ik-cm the 
first buried there. One tradition is, that the six men were 
buried there because the fo(^ concealed the j)rocessi()n, as people 
gathered to burv them, from the Indians. This vuu/ have 
determined the site to that ground ; but the reapings of" death 
lor nearly fifty years before, must have made some common 
garner needful, and so distinct as to be discernable till now. On 
this account I dnubt the tradition found in the " Historical Dis- 
courst'," and nuiitiuiu'd above. The " old ground " was prol>- 
ably the ///■>•/ and oiilif ground. Tiiere was no such dispersion 
as the note referred to supjmses. Iidiabitants were here all the 
time, and graves per]>etually mark the dwelling places of men. 
Through the entire foi'ty years preceeding the last century, the 
liviuiT were here, and death was doing its work among them. 

" At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of Brookfield, on the 
twenty-fifth day of October, 1T5<J, Caj)'. Nathaniel VVoolcot, 
^Iod^ Voted that five acres be staked out for a Burying place 
in the Ministry Lott." 

" Voted that the Selectmen be a Committee to stake out said 
five acres." 

" On Monday y*" 17 day of Ai)ril 1700 (adjourned to the 
27th) Voter! to accept the j)lan of five acres as it was staked 
(»ut by the Committee and planned by Mr. James WhitcomI), 
Surveyor ; and ordered that it be put into the book of Records. 
Said \\\yy acres to be fur a buiying place." 

There is in the book a Sur\ eyor's sketch, with the boundary 
marks given. 

In the warrant for the March meeting, 180S, the fiftei'iith 
article is as follows : 

** To see if the town will fence the Burial ground in the third 
Precinct or "irant the Land to the saitl •»rd Brecinct and allow 



68 

them the rents now due, upon condition that any individual of 
said Town may make use of the same ; or otherwise to do and 
act upon said subject as they shall think proper." 

Voted to refer the substance of this article to Messrs. Thomas 
Hale, Esqr., John Gleason and Lt. Rufus Hamilton as a Com 
mittee." 

March 13, 1809. " Voted to accept the report of Committee 
respecting the Burial Ground belonging to this Town, and that 
Capt. Simeon Draper, Lt. Jason Bigelow, Lt. Robert Cutler be 
a Committee to spend the money now due for Rents of said 
Burial ground in building and repairing the fence of said Burial 
ground." 

The following is the report referred to in the 4th article of 
the warrant. (The article under which the above vote was 
passed.) 

" We, the subscribers, being appointed by the Inhabitants of 
the Town of Brookfiekl a Committee to take into consideration 
the Propriety of the Towns fencing the burial ground in the 
3rd Parish in said Town, or grant the said burial ground to the 
said 3rd Parish with the Rents which may be now due to said 
Town, agreeable to an article in the warrant for March meet- 
ing, 1808. Your Committee having attended to the business of 
their appointment, ask leave to i-eport as our Opinion that it is 
not expedient to grant the said burial ground to the Lihabitants 
of s*^ 3rd Parish, as there are many People in the other Parishes 
that have buried their Friends in said ground. But we would 
further report as our opinion that the Town should as soon as 
may be convenient compleat a good Wall adjoining the post 
Road and make a good and convenient gate for People to pass 
and repass to said burial ground and also to rebuild so much of 



69 



tlio Fonro on \ho East side of said luirial fjronnd, as may be 
i-oinploatetl with the Rfuts now due, and the lieinaiiider as soon 
as the Rents may bo sulKcient for tho Purpose, which is sub- 
mitted. 

Thomas Hale, 
Rut'us Ilaniihun, 
March 13, 1809. John (JleaM.ii. 

N. B. We find due to the Town, $33. 

Tlie affairs of the present centiu-y properly belong to the 7'//- 
ceyitcimial orator. I will not nnich invade his held. Civilly, 
the main events are the erection of the tluee precincts^ of tho 
former century, into three townships. North Brookfield, the 
first to separate parochially, came first to separate town estate. 
The first recorded movement for it, is a petition, not very strong- 
ly drawn, or honorably sii^ned, dateil .June 2d, ISIO. It faile(l. 
The next year, a much fuller and more suitable jietition, per- 
suaded the Legislature to constitute the precinct a town. The 
act passed February 27, 1812. The fortunes of a political j)ar- 
ty were so much dependent on the success of the plan, that they 
helped it forward very efficiently. The Great Ruler had ends 
as hiij;h above theirs, as the heavens are above these hills. He 
has been and is making those ends sure. They failed, in tho 
first party trial after the act. The first town meeting was held 
Tuesday, March 10, 1812. Daniel Gilbert, Esq., was Modera- 
tor, Moses Uond, Town Clerk. 

Immediate jirosperity smiled on the new Town. The maini- 
facture of shoes for distant markets bi'gan near this time, rpiick- 
ening all the pulses of industry ; busying many hands belbre 
idle ; making a market for produce of the soil, bef(»re unsah-able, 
and by growing resources diffusing the culture and comtoi-ts of 
life to an extent reacheil in but few towns. Mi:ny young men 



70 



were drawn from other towns and states, giving numbers, ener 
gy and character to the town, which have raised it to a praise- 
worthy rank among her neighbors. Its late patriarch pastor, 
Thomas Snell, D. D., published several narratives of town and 
parish history ; a sermon on the fortieth anniversary of his 
settlement June 24, 1838 ; a sermon on the fiftieth anniversary 
of his settlement June 27, 1848 ; a Historical Sketch of the 
Town, May 28, 1850 ; a Discourse, containing an Historical 
Sketch of the First Congregational Church in North Brookfield 
one hundred years from its organization. May 28, 1852. The 
local history of the town has hence been quite well cared for, 
and will, we trust, be more so in future. 

In 1848, the two remaining parishes after a companionship of 
nearly a century, took each, the forms of a separate township. 
Both held their first town meetings March 27, 1848. In the 
original settlement, thenceforth known as West Brookfield, 
Alanson Hamilton presided at the first meeting, Jacob Dupee 
was chosen Town Clerk. This meeting was opened with prayer 
by Rev. Leonard S. Parker, then pastor. In Brookfield, Alfred 
Rice was the first Moderator, and Washington Tufts the first 
Town Clerk. 

Thus the ancient Quaboag, first a glimmering plantation, its 
light almost put out in blood ere its infancy was passed ; then a 
trio of precincts or ecclesiastical municipalities, showing that 
religion preceeded in importance all other public concerns ; these 
parishes then ripening into townships, thus completed in two cen- 
turies the progress from the most elemental, to the maturest 
forms of civilized life under republican institutions. Thi'ough a 
wasting and very critical revolution, through much internal, as 
well as public conflict, the ancestry and tlie posterity kept alive 
the spirit and form of true freedom and the sim})le church polity 



71 



■\vliicli sliiipcd :iii(l (•(Inciitcd tli;it IVcc'doin. Tlic ]il;iin \It:il dor- 

triiios of the rrospid liave been preaelied ; t;ui^lit in f'aiuilii's, in 

siil)l):ith schools, and in the social intercourse of the j)eojile ; and 

patriotism, education, peaceful and cultured social life have 

been the visible results. 

Reverently we listen to the whisper of our forefathers as the 

poet utters it : 

*' Blood of ours is on tlic meadow, 
Dust of ours is in the soil. 
But no tablet casts a shadow 

When; we sluniher from our toil." 

But better than any tablet with its shadow, shall bo tlio 
nioiiiiint'iit of our unfaltering fidelity to the reliii;ious and ci\ il 
principles which made them the men they were, ami which as 
faithfully cherished by us as by them, will make us worthy of 
them. 

You will expect me to recall a grouji of three reverend ukmi 
whose lives and toils so remarkably interblend on this soil, and 
in the yet unwritten history of this generation. I mean the 
pastors Fiske, Snell and Stone. Hand in hand they are seen 
together through the larger half of this century, (the wives too 
of their youth beside theiu). until the last in the group had 
added to our historic treasures his half-century sermon. Their 
last meeting was in the jtulpit of the second in order of age and 
settlement (now the sole survivor*) at the installation of his 
colleague, Uev. Mr. Gushing. In the religious life imder their 
ministries in the service of Christ, — in schools, — in domestic 
culture, in awaking and forming the mind of this generation, 
who can estimate their beneticent inHuence. 

• Thomas Snell. D. D., diet! May 4, 18C2, aged 87. John Fiske. D. D.. died 
March 15, 1855, aged 84. Rev. Micah Stone dictl September 21, 1852, in the 
82ud year of his age. 



72 



The profound Edmund Burke said " when ancient opinions 
and rules of life are taken away, the loss cannot possibly be 
estimated." It behooves us to be mindful lest the removal of 
our " ancient men " effects the extinction of " ancient opinions 
and rules of life." 

As we began — so will we close — thankfully accepting the 
welcome we find and feel from each other, from all the past, 
and from the scenes amid which we assemble. 

An eminent poet, who in his boyhood, dwelt in the parsonage 
at North Brookfield for a time as a pupil to his uncle, the pastor 
abovenamed, has woven into verse for another like occasion, the 
story of this observance. 

" Two hundred times has June renewed 
Her roses, since the day 
When here, amid the lonely wood 
Our fathers met to pray. 

Beside this gentle stream, that strayed 

Through pathless woodlands then, 
The calm heroic women prayed 
' And grave, undaunted men. 

Hymns on the ancient silence broke 

From hearts that faltered not. 
And undissembling lips that spoke 

The free and guileless thought. 

They prayed, and thanked the Mighty One 

Who made their hearts so strong. 
And led them towards the setting sun. 

Beyond the reach of wrong. 

For them He made that desert place 

A pleasant heritage, — 
The cradle of a free born race 

From peaceful age to age. 

The plant they set— a little vine — 
Hath stretched its boughs afar, 



73 

To distant liills iiixl struiitiiH that »hiuc 
Deiicatli the evening star. 

Ours are tlieir tieMs, — these (iel'ls that smile 

With smniner's early tluwers : 
Oh, let their t'earlesa seorn of guile 

And love of truth, be oura ! " 

()i)K liy W. C. Bryant, Esij., fur the lli-Centennial Celebration at Iladley, June 
8, 18u'J. 



I 



APPENDIX. 



TTTl': TWO CELEBRATIONS. 

An observance preliminary to tluit of IHW, wjis held July 'Ad, 1858. 
The call to it, ami the KeiKirt of it in the Boston Juicnial of July 5, 
1858, preserve the essential record and incidents of it. 

BuooKiiKi.i), Mass. , May 22d, 1858. 
DeauSik: The undersicciicd, a Coniiuitlt'e apixiiiitod for tlio purpose, by 
tin- citizens of Brootcfioiil, Nortli BriM)klicl(i, ami West IJrooktielii, respcciruily 
invite you, with your lauiiiy, to join us on Saturday, the thirtl of .luly m-xt, 
lor tlie purpose of inei'ting your old friends of this ancient town, and partic- 
ipating with them in the celebration of our National Independence. 
Hon. PLINY MKHHICK, of Boston, 
Hon. DWKHIT FOSTER, of Worcester, 
SIMEON DKAl'EH, Esy. , of New York, 
HON. AMASA WALKER of Norfli Brookfield. 
and others, will address us on the occasion. We are also assured of a Poem, 
by Hon. CHARLES TIIURBER, of Worcester. 

Dinner will be provided under a large tent, at one o'clock — Tickets, $1. 
Sliould any of your friends who feel an interest in this meeting fail to re- 
ceive an invitation, we will be obliged to you if you will extend one to them in 
our behalf, as it is our wish that there should be a general attendance of all 
connected with Brookfield, either by birth, former residence, or n»arri;ige. 

One object of the proposed re-union is to make prelinnnary arrangements 
for a Celebration of the Two-hundredth Anniversary of the Settlement of 
this Town, which occurs in May, istM). 

In order to make necessary preparation for tlie dinner, we will Ibank you 
for an early reply, (tlirected to the Cbairmai. of the Brookfield Comnnltee.) 
giving the names of such persons as may wish to join in the festivities of the 
oec;ision. 



76 



We add, that frequent trains of cars, upon the Western R. R. will stop at 
this place during the day and evening. 

We have the honor to be 

Very respectfully, 

Your obedient servants, 



AARON KIMBALL 
FRANCIS HOWE 
LEWIS AliliOTT 
S. W. r.ANISTER 
PERLEY STEVENS 
LUTHER STOWELL 
OLIVER C. JTELTON 
CALVm JENNINGS 
OTIS HAYDEN 
EMMONS TWICHELL 
ALFRED RICE 



AMASA WALKER 
DANIEL WHITING 
HIRAM EDSON 
CHARLES DUNCAN 
WILLIAM ADAMS 
GEORGE H LOWE 
ROYAL PICKARD 
EZRA BATCH ELLER 
LVSANDER BREWER 
JAMES H, HILL 
BONUM NTTE 



ALANSON HAMILTON 
NATHANIEL LYNDR 
EBENEZER MERRL\M 
JOHN M. FALES 
AIGUSTUS MAKEPEACE 
E B F. N E Z E l; F A I R B A N KS 

DAVID B. (;m:as(in 

DAVID L MOHKIL 
RAYMOND CUMMINGS ' 
GEORGE W. LINCOLN 
WARREN A. BLAIR. 



ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE IN 
BROOKFIELD. 

[From the Boalon Journal, July 5, 1858.] 

The town of Brookfield, in the southwest part of Worcester county, and on 
the line of the Western Railroad, was the earliest settled township in that 
county, or between Marlboro' on the East, and Springfield on the West. It 
was settled by a company from Cape Ann, under a grant dated May 20, 1660. 
In the revolutionary period, Brookfield was a town of much note in tliat part 
of the State ; but though now a town of much enterprise and thrift, it has 
been outstripped by other towns possessing inferior natural advantages, and 
settled long after the date of the Brookfield grant. The old town has been 
divided into three — Brookfield, North Brookfield, and West Brookfield — con- 
taining a population of 2007, 2307, and 1363, respectively. 

A grand iniion celebration of these divisions of " the good old town " was 
held on Saturday, the 3d instant — one object of which was to pave the way 
for the celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of the settlement of the 
town in 1660, for which extensive preparations are even now set on foot, in 
the collection of all interesting facts that can be gleaned from the ancient 
records of the town. 

Many men distinguished in the various walks of life were born in Brook- 
field. and a large number from different parts of the county were present on 
this occasion. 

The morning of the festival day opened very inauspiciously ; and the thun- 
dering of cannon and ringhig of bells awoke the inhabitants to find the rain 
falling, with but faint promise of cessation, without regard to the important 
and interesting jubilee on the programme. Much disappointment was felt, 
and some delay was occasioned by this; and the number of returning wan- 
derers by the morning trains was doubtless considerably decreased. Delega- 
tions from the railroad station, and from the country around, including the 
American Engine Company from West Brookfield, and the Bay State Engine 
Company, and tht! Challenge (a juvenile conii)any) from East Brookfield, 
were received by the Cataract Company, of Brookfield, accompanied by Bond's 



77 

rornot Rarnl of TJoston. Tlir clnircln's woro tlimwii opoii, and many look 

slifltrr in llu-ni until the rain was over. A lla^jj-slalV had bi-en fn-rted on 

the (.'onunon the previous day, 170 feet hij^li, expressly for this occasion, and 

the streamer from its top was anxiously watehed until the wind wiis declared 

to he in a safe quarter. About eleven o'clock the rain ce;ised, and the day 

thenceforward went on successfully. The word "WKLCOMK" was 

stretched across tho principal street. Several other devices, which had been 

orilercd, had not been received. At half-past twelve tbo procession was 

formed in the foUowing order : 

Gro. E. Clapp. Ebq., Chief Marshal. 
Aldb — Tyler IluHinaii niiil neiiry L. Mellon. 

FIIIST DIVISION. 

Dond'ti I'uriiet IIkiiiI— I'l) jjleooB. 

Cataract Engine Compauy of lirookllrM. Cai.t. Austin n. Moulton — 60 mon. 

Coniiiiittcc of BriM.kni-lU. 

Speakorn ami nucKts. 

CllUens gunerully. 

SECOXn DIVISION. 

American Engine Company, West Hr.».kntl.l. Oftpt. C. B. Sanford— 33 men. 

Conimitl<o of W««t liro>>kfleld. 

West Itrookfltld Cil.e Club. 

Cliizons Gtnerally. 

TIIIKI) DIVISION. 

ComuiilU'e of North ItrookOeld. 

President, Vice Prculdents, Cliaplain, 4c. 

Guustii — Citizens Generally. 

FOtTKTII DIVISION. 

nay StJ\t<> F.npine Company, Kast Urx.okH.ld. Capt. C. K. Wlllar(V-.'Vl num. 

Challrnge F.iit;iiio Company, (jiivrnilel. Kast Hrooklleld— Capt. Kniory J. Nichols — 10 lioyB. 

(.fuexls and C'ltlzi-ns. 

The procession marched tlirough the principal streets, making a good ap- 
pearance, and returned to the Common, where they were joined by the lathes, 
and from thence proceeded to the Tent, where dinner had been provided. 

Tlic r>lniior In tlio Tent. 

Yale's mammoth tent, 24U feet long and O.'i feet wide, had been erected on 
aji elrvatod situation near the village, commanding a fine view of the sur- 
rounding country, in which the richly cultivated farms of intervale and liigli 
land, the Quaboag river and the Podimc pond, and various interesting locali- 
ties blend to form one of the richest views in the interior of Massachusetts. 
Dinner had been provided for twelve hundred people, and the arrangements 
for that number had been carried out in a highly creditable manner by Mr. 
E. IJ. .Shaw of Palmer, the caterer of the occasion. Seventeen tables were 
arranged across the tent, besides which an elevated table in front of tho 
Spc.ikers' stand was provided — occupied by the speakers and invited gue.st.s. 
The tables were prettily laid, and amply provided with substantial provisions 
and ornamenled with bou(iucLs and small ll.igs. The tent was quite exten- 
sively decorated. A line of Hags w.as suspended from the middle of the tent 
the entire length. All around the out-siilc of the tent was festooned with 
bunting. From the two end poles of the tent hung the following mottoes: 

From the north end : 

Tea Destroyed in Dostou Uarbor, 
Due. 10, 1703. 



78 

Tort of Boston closed by the Enemy, 

June 1, 1774. 

Washington in command, 

July 2. 1775. 

Evacuation of Boston, 

March 17, 1776. 

From the south end : 

Declaration of Independence, 

July 4, 177(i 

Confederation of the United States, 

July 9, 1778. 

Surrender of Cornwallis, 

October 19, 1781. 
Definitive Treaty of Peace, 
Septemljer 3, 1782. 

The following mottoes were arranged before the speakers' stand : 

" Forget not those who by their exertions secured to you the blessings of this Day." 

" Our national honor must be preserved at all hazards." 

"July 4th, 1776," 

(In the centre of the stand.) 

"It is henceforward what the dying Adams pronounced it — 'A great and good Day.' " 

" Our country in all that is great and good — may her progress never cease." 

The following were arranged in the rear of the speakers : 

"Peace with all nations." 

"John Bull and Uncle Sam — May they ever live in peace." 

"Governor Winthrop, 1630 — His name and fame still live." 

'• Washington — the father of his country." 

(In the centre of the stand.) 

" Our fathers trusted in Thee, and Thou didst deliver them." 

"Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable." 

"God be with us as he was with our fathers." 

About nine hundred sat down at the table at two o'clock. Tliis was a 
larger ninnber than had been anticipated during the unfavorable weather of 
the former part of the day. The Blessing of Heaven upon the feast prepared 
was invoked by Kev. Dr. Vaill of Palmer, and the sweet tune, " Home 
Again," was sung by the Glee Club, under the direction of Mr. Edward Ham- 
ilton of Worcester. An hour was then very pleasantly occupied in disposing 
of the various dishes which made up the dinner. 

The intellectual part of the feast was particularly full and pleasing. Hon. 
Amasa Walker, of North Brookfield, presided, assisted by the following Vice 
Presidents: Hon. Francis Howe, O. C. Felton, Abraham Skinner, Aaron 
Kimball, Esq.. of Brookfield. Hon. Alanson Hamilton, Nathaniel Lynde, 
Esq., Ebenezer Merriam, of West Brookfield. Col. Wm. Adams, Pliny Nye, 
Esq., of North Brookfield. D. L. Morril, Esq., of West Brookfield was toast 
master. At three o'clock the attention of the company was called to the read- 
ing of the Declaration of Independence, which was read by Rev. S. S. Hunting 
of Brookfield. The company then listened to the first regular toast: 

The Fourth of July, 1776 — The memorable day in the history of the Amer- 
ican nation. May its anniversary never be forgotten, and may the blessings 
which it inaugurated for us be speedily secured for and enjoyed by every person. 
who breathes the free air of heaven within the confines of this Republic. 

The Band responded with " Hail Columbia." 

Hon. A-inasa, "Walker, 

Df North Brookfield, the President of the day, opened the addresses of the 
occasion by speaking of the early history of " The good old town of Brook- 



79 

fiolil," wliicli was settled in 1073, long before any other settlements were madn 
in this section of the State. 

IJrooIitieiil, he said, was one of the "old towns " of the State in 177'), and 
acconliiigly took an active part in the deliberative councils of that time. She 
was not only w«ll represented in the council, but she was also prepared for 
war. She had more gunpowder than any other town except Charicstown 
(tlie amount was (liree barrels) when the war broke out, and more tin-locks 
than any other town except Lancaster. Hrooklield was not lacking in patriot- 
ism to make use of her means of defense. Some interesting statistics were 
given of the means of defense existing, at the time of the Kevolution. in the 
various towns. In 17.S1 there was a season which tried the patriotism of 
the people more than any other. When the war was still raging, and when 
the general government eould not raise money to support the troops, tho 
towns and parishes were ajipealed to. and responded nobly to the ap|M^al. 
The precinct of Brookfield voted to ta.x themselves 1())S<J pounds sterling to 
support twelve soldiers for three years. Corn, at that time, was worth only '2s. 
Sd. per bushel. 

The luimcs of some of the noble otTicers and soldiers from Brookfield were 
honorably mentioneil. There was a man living, the speaker said, who eoidd 
remember when more business w.xs done in IJnjokfield than m Worcester. 

In behalf of the Committee of Arrangements, Mr. Walker then extended a 
cordial welcome to all who came to reunite in this festival. After a very 
honorable reference to Judgk MEimiCK, that gentleman was introduced to 
the audience. 

Itt'iiiiii'IcK of •Iiidp^o ]Morrlc*lt. 

In commencing he thanked the President, and through him those present, 
for the kindness with which he was received back again to his old home. 
AVhatever reason there had been for any who had re-united liere to-day, to 
leave homes once lighted by paternal love, they could never be forgotten. 
However absorbing or exacting a man's business was, these old menmries 
lasted as long as he retained his senses, and sometimes survived them. They 
who had invited those present to come here to-day, could readily appreciate 
thi'ir feelings when they returne<l to these old familiar places — coming to 

H "iale with those who had associated with their fathers, or those who had 
taken their places in the town. The welcome extendtnl to them would always 
be cherisbeil in their hearts — not as a formally arranged festivity, but as a 
reni'wal of those associations, begim in youth, which had been so long broken. 

Assembled as they were on the day of our national indepen<lenci! — sur- 
rounded by the Hags of the country, and mottoes which spoke of its emanci- 
pation from a foreign yoke, topics of a national character could not be well 
avoided. Since July 4, 177t5, this day h.ad been regarded with joy and celebra- 
tions. As the revolving years have brought around this day, its praise h.ad 
been sounded from countless mouths over all this v.ast country. Many 
rancorous political contests liad been waged, and many dangerous sentiments 
had bi>i>n allowed and recognized; but on this glorious d.iy all had united in 
sentiments for the peri)etualion of this country, complete and insepai^able. 



80 

Succeeding generations had celebrated the day with excitements and loud 
acclamations, and it was well they did. The day, whose anniversary was 
thus celebrated, was not a day of pomp and ceremony. It was no time for 
that, then. It was the time for action. But the extent of our country and 
its various institutions, need all the warmth of patriotism to bind it together. 

All, with the exception of a few who preferred to be slaves rather than 
freemen, united in the maintenance of the same great cause. Commerce, 
agriculture and the arts united together. Towns which had become opulent 
by trade contributed and assumed the expenses of the war of the Revolution. 
This was not all; the poor gave also — casting their whole living into the 
support of liberty. Historians had embalmed the memory of many of the 
prominent actors in the great cause, but the acts of their companions who had 
shared equal dangers with them, but in less prominent positions, were being 
lost to us, in a particular sense. There had been but little dissimilarity in the 
origin of the great actors of the American Revolution. Putnam went up 
with the soldiers who had plowed with him in the same field — uneducated, 
but bearing as brave a heart as was ever carried into battle. Greene, in his 
early life, was familiar with the forge in his father's blacksmith shop. 
Washington followed the occupation of a land surveyor. Brookfield, said the 
speaker, herself had produced patriotism more valuable than all the auriferous 
sands or seductive placers of gold piled up in the mountains or existing in 
the valleys of California, or of the world! Brookfield was ahead of the other 
towns when the Revolution broke out. The audience had been told that it 
had three barrels of powder when the war commenced, and it always kept it 
" dry" and was ready to use it. (Applause.) 

The history of the town, except in ecclesiastical and parochial matters, was 
but imperfectly recorded, but the speaker was glad to learn that the reapers 
in this harvest of living history were already girding themselves to bind up 
the sheaves. Who shall say what names shall grace that page of our history. 
Let the work be done as faithfully as its importance demands. The names 
of Ward, Appleton, and Fiske, leaders in our Israel, will figure there. These 
considerations should be deferred till that more appropriate occasion, the two 
hundredth anniversary, which would soon be celebrated, when the children 
of these noble men would pay their dearest tribute to their fathers' memory. 
But these considerations would press upon us now as we hear mentioned the 
honorable names now represented here, and those that had been sent abroad. 
From IMymouth Rock to the Golden Gate of the Pacific, tliere could hardly a 
place be found where some representative from this old town had not rested, 
and assisted in establishing the institutions of our country. In other lands 
they have stood alone, and nobly represented our nation. They have flung 
out the flag of the country, and defended it from its enemies. Whatever may 
have been the occupation of their lives, wherever their lots had been cast, 
they would deeply sympathize with the present residents of Brookfield in 
their veneration of its ancient honor— and when the proposed centennial cel- 
ebration was held, they would return to unite their voices with them in its 
praise. 



81 

In conclusion Jiulcjc MiCRiiifK oflcri'tl llio following sontiniont: 

JJi' o rhhl — Brookjldd as of Old. Peace be witLiii thy walls and pro.'si)er- 
ity within tliy gates forever. 

yecond regular toast: 

The Miinnry of vur Ihimrtcd Patriots and StalcKtnni. Tlieir cliaraetors 
were upright and manly — their motives were pure as the sky ahovc them. 
Their fame is co-extensive with the universe. May future generations enm- 
late tlieir virtues, practise their precepts and pay liomage to tlieir minds. 

In response to this sentiment, a dirge was performed by the IJaud. 

Third regular toast: 

Thv CoustUution and the Union. May tlie wisdom which framed the one 
aiul the patriotism whicli secured tlie other, by the Fathers, be perpetuated in 
the sons, so tliat llie inheritance whieli was be<|ueathed to us may be main- 
tained, the pride of the people, the glory of the age, and the example for tho 
world. 

Hon. Wm. Appi.ktox of Boston was expected to bo present and respond 
to this sentiment, but disappointed the audience in not being present 

Fourth regular toiust: 

The Sons of Brookfidd. Where success is honorable, tliere is no such word 
as/(/(7. 

A letter was read from Hon. .Simkon Duatku of Now York, in response to 
tills sentiment. He had been unexpectedly detained from participating in this 
celebration by urgent business. The spirit of the letter wiis accordant to tho 
words of the toast, and was highly congratulatory and eulogistic in its charac- 
ter. 

" Aulil Lang Syne " was then sung by the Glee Club, with excellent effect. 

Fifth regular toast: 

The Patriots of Brookfidd in 177(3 — They showed their patriotism no less 
by their self-dinial at home than by tlieir fjrutcrij on tlie battle field. 

Hon. DwuiiiT FosTEU of Worcester, descended in the second generation 
from Hrookfield, which was the residence of his grandfather, the fatlier of tho 
late Hon. A. D. Foster of Worcester, responded. His ancestry, he said, had 
lived here, and their graves were here, and so familiar was he with the jilaces 
of interest in this old town that he felt he had ;us good a right here .xs any 
one. He referred to the ancient liistory of lJrnokfi<'ld, reading from an old 
record of the town, of curious interest, showing the great interest and zeal 
which this town exhibiteil in all its meetings during the struggle of the Kevo- 
lution. He then offered for a closing sentiment: 

Our Forifathirs of thr toirn of lirookfitlit — May we cherish their memory, 
imitate their virtues, and equal their characters. 

Sixth regular toast. 

Tlie Veteran Schoolmaster of 1702 present icith us on thui occasion. — He has 
probably taught and flogged more Brookfield boys tlian any otlier man that 
ever lived. The remarkable success of his scholars in after life shows that his 
instructions were good, and Lis discipline judiciously applied. 



82 

The veteran schoolmaster, Mr. Rufus Dodge, who is 85 years of age, then 
stood up and showed himself to the company. Mr. Cart of St. Charles, Mo., 
Geo. Howe, Esq., of Boston, and Wm. Howe, Esq., of Brookfield, responded 
briefly. 

Seventh regular toast. 

The President of the MassacJmsetts Senate — A distinguished descendant 
of one of the most ancient and most respected families of the old town of 
Brookfield. He has served in the councils of the nation and in the legislative 
halls of tlie Commonwealth, in both with the fullest approbation of his fellow- 
citizens. 

This was briefly responded to by his cousin, Henkt Upham, Esq., of Bos- 
ton. 

The eighth regular toast — was complimentary to the clergy of Brookfield — 
their learning, piety, success and longevity. 

This toast was prepared for Eev. Dr. Snelx. of North Brookfield, who last 
Sunday preached his sixtieth anniversary sermon. He was not able to be 
present, and the sentiment was responded to by Rev. 0. Cushing, his colleague. 
Four pastors were named whose aggregate pastorate had been 194 years. The 
remarks of this speaker were particularly impressive. 

Ninth regular toast. 

The late Senator from the County of Middlesex — A descendant from one of 
the most talented and brilliant families that ever lived in Brookfield. We 
congratulate Newton and that coimty upon their adoption of one of our 
sons. 

This sentiment was happily responded to by the gentleman so warmly 
alluded to, Dr. Hitchcock of Newton. He spoke of the county and town 
of which he was a resident — of its history and chivalrous deeds. He spoke 
of the marked devotion which Newton showed to the cause of liberty in the 
struggle of the Revolution. There, he said, labored the Apostle Elliott; there 
were the best theological institutions, the best schools, the best young ladies' 
seminary, the best ministers, the best physicians, the best lawyers, the best 
farmers, the best mechanics, the best firemen, the best neighbors, which can 
be found on the face of the globe. Notwithstanding all this, after so long an 
absence he joyfully returned to greet his loved friends in his native town. 
For him nature had never spread out such inducements as in the days of old, 
in this goodly town. He was unable to visit them often ; other cares and 
duties occupied his time; but he loved to think, wherever he was, of this place 
and those dear friends whom a kind Providence had so signally blessed. 

In conclusion. Dr. Hitchcock said: 

" We have to-day visited these spots where our ancestors and kindred sleep 
in peace. They have crossed the river of death. In some instances, hardly a 
broken slab, half legibly inscribed, tell us where they repose. How silent 
their resting places! So it will be with us, for we are soon to follow. We 
are, Uke them, to bid a last and long farewell to loved ones. The cold sweat 
of death will be upon our brows ; the glazed eye will be unable to recognize ; 



I 



83 

tlio palsied toiiijufi will be sppocliless; and theso hands cannot n-tiirn the 
(penile pressure of the idols of our hearts. When tliat hour sliali roitie may 
we be ready, so that the cold stream ()f death shall be to us but a rill, and may 
the sweet music of heaven break upon our enraptured ears, destroying even 
the stinc; of deatli." 

An orii^'inal ode to science was then sung by the Glee Clul, which contri- 
buted largely to the pleasiue of the occiusioii by its swfu't music. 

The celebration was eminently successful antl satisfactory, notwithstamling 
the bad weather of the morning, and the clouded sky all day. Much credit is 
<lue to the following named gentlemen, the Committee of .Vrrangi-ments. by 
whose energy and enterprise the alfair w;is rendered so decided a suc<e>s: 
tJeo. E. Clapp, Ksq., CJeo. W. Johnson, Esq., ,\. II. Moulton, Charles Eales, 
Joel IJartlett, Tyler Ilosman, \Vm. II. Montague, Stillman Buttc-rworth, 
Henry L. MelK-n, (Jeorge Forbes and I'liny Doanc. 

The great kindness and hospitality shown to our reporter merits his 
warmest regard, and sjKjaks nobly for the citizens of ** the good old town.'' 



THE BI-CENTENNIiVL CELEBRATION". 

The Celebration of 18G0 was announced to the public by the Cir- 
cular following : 

BnooKFiFi.n. March 15, ISOO. 

DeauSir: The present year marks the Two Hundredth Anniversary of 
tlie Settfement of tliis Town, and it is tliought desirable and proper that the 
event should be commemorated in a suitable manner. 

A general meeting of the citizens of the several towns into whicli the an- 
cient town of Brooklield has been divided, has been helil, and the umiersigned 
ajipointed a Committee to make arrangements for the occasion, and invite the 
attendance of all who may feel an interest in it. 

We therefore respectfully extend to you an invitation to be present on the 
Fourth of July next, the day fixed upon as on the whole the most eligible and 
convenient. 

The committee arc especially desirous that all who originated in, or liavo 
been residents of tliis place, should join in this Celebration. 

The Sons and Daughters of Hrookfield are scattered far and wide in all the 
JStates of the I'nion; but the Committee trust they will be happy to conn' to 
gether on an occasion so fraught with interesting associations aud reminiscen- 
ces. 

The first settlement having been made in tl>at part of the old town now in- 
corporat«?d as West Brookficid, and the site of the first Meeting House, the old 
garrison which stood successfully the Indian Siege of 1075, the (Jilbert Fort, 
and the first (Jrave Yard beingalso in that section, the Committee h.ave deeided 
to hold Ihe proposed celebration in that town. Kkv. Lyma_n Wuixtxo of 



4 



84 



Providence, R. I., lias been invited to deliver the Address, and every eflort will 
be made to give interest to the occasion. 

A large tent will be erected upon the Common, in which the services will be 
held, and the dinner be provided. 
Tickets to the Tent and Dinner, one dollar. 

We have the honor to be. 

Respectfully, 

Your Obedient Servants, 



AAEON KIMBALL, 
FRANCIS HOWE, 
O. (!. FELTON. 
EMMONS TWICHELL, 
LUTHER STOWELL,. 
A. H. MOULTON. 
GEO. W. JOHNSON, 
H. L. MELLEN, 
GEO. FOR BES, 
PLINY DOANE, 



WM. ADAMS. 
EZRA BACHELLER, 
CHARLES ADAMS, JR., 
HIRAM CARRUTH, 
PLINY NYE, 
AMASA WALKER. 
BONUM NYE. 
E. D. BACHELLER, 
T. M. DUNCAN. 
G. B. DEWING, 



ALANSON HAMILTON. 
NATHANIEL LYNDE, 
ALEKEl) WHITE, 
JOSIAH HKNSHAW, 
BAXTER BARNES, 
RAYMOND CUMMINGS, 
CHARLES E. SMITH, 
JOHN M FALES. 
L. H. THOMPSON, 
S. N..WH1TE, 
G. W. LINCOLN, 



The following report of the Celebration, is copied from The Mas- 
sachusetts Spy, July 6, 18G0. 

The morning of Wednesday July 4th, opened with heavy, foreboding clouds, 
which however, " in honor of the day," soon broke, and the sun looked down 
with gladness, shedding splendor on the whole day and sc(.Mie. 

The decorations of Col. Deals were hung around in great profusion . mak- 
ing the whole village, With its neat dwellings, its rich shadowy elms, and luxu- 
riant maples, radiant with bunting, parti-colored flags, national emblems and 
devices. The new Town Hall was bedecked with flags and streamers, and on 
its broad front were displayed a large equestrian design representing Wash- 
ington, with the goddess and cap of liberty on one hand, and the blind god- 
dess of justice on the other, while below were arranged the coats of arms of 
various of the states. Across all the principal streets were displayed flags of 
all colors and devices, conspicuously displaying the word " Welcome " at each 
entrance of the vihage, and across from the Town Hall was the hiscription, 
" Welcome Home, Sons and Daughters of Brookfield." 

Many private dwellings were decorated with flags and evergreen wreaths, 
as well as patriotic mottoes, most conspicuous among them being the old 
tavern opposite the Town Hall, with the inscription, " Hitchcock Tavern, 
17G0." The Wickaboag House, near the depot, was also tastefully decorated. 

The citizens of West Brookfield proceeded at 9 o'clock, luuler the escort 
of the Oakham band, to Foster's Hill, the site of the first fortification, where 
they were met by the citizens of North, South, and East Brookfield, with the 
Brookfield Cornet band, and marched to the common. Here the final pro- 
cession was formed, with S. D. Cooke as chief marshal, and marched through 
the village to the grounds of E. B. Taintor, Esq., where, entering under a 
tasteful birch, bearing the iuscriptiou, " Brookfield incorporated 1660," they 



k 



85 

procpp<lpil by tho lano, wliicli was foriiiorly llm old stfisfi road, to the old hiir}'- 
ui;; i^niiiiid, near the entrance of wliich stood a nioiiiiiiieiit niscriht-d: — 

" Kifctod in nioniory of John Wliite, Josi-ph Ki lloj;, Stt'iiht-n Jcnninf;s, 
IJoiijaniin .I(>nnini;s, KIm-ih-zit Ilayward.and Jolni (Jrosvenor, who wen- killed 
by the Indians, duly 20, 1710." 

Thence the procession returned across the old Baldwin place to the street, 
under an ornamental arch inscribed, " ItJOO. The day we celebrate. 1770,'' 
with the word " Welcome " on the reverse. 

Arriving at the large tent, wliich w;us set up at the east end of thecomimm 
near the old Fisk store, the large company entered and completely tilled the 
tables, which had been set for twelve hundred, leaving a large margin for out- 
siders wlio did not care to particijtate in the dinner. 

The meeting being called to order, A.masa Wai.kkk, Esq., appeared as 
president of the ilay,and introduced the venerable Uev. Dr. Joski'II Vaii.i. of 
Palmer, who invoked the divine blessing. 

The gatliered host then spent a half hour in doing justice to the ample 
viands spread before them by the caterers, Messrs. Cummings and Crowell. 

The platform was appropriately arranged with evergreen mottoes and de- 
vices, and set out with boufjuets, which also ornamented the long tables. 

Conspicuous on the i)latform was a banner having on one side a sketch of 
an ancient meeting house, with a gathering Sunday crowd on foot and on 
horseback, in the olden style, with the inscription, " Church of our Fathers." 
The reverse bore a sketch of the Indian attack on the fortified house in H>7ii, 
with the inscription, "Attack on the Last House," and " If (iod be for us, 
who can be against us? " Other inscribeil b.".i:iiers, whicli had been borne in 
the procession, were conspicuously displayi'd in different parts of the tent. 

l'|)on tlve platform sat quite an array of the old sons of Brooklield, with 
gray and silvere*! locks, which formed a dignified and touching picture to tho 
view of the audience. 

The edibles beuig disposed of, the president of the day, Mr. Walker, offered 
in eloqiient terms, a welcome to the sons, daughters, and former residents of 
the old town, to this historical reiniion. Then recurring to KKIO, he said il 
was the time of the restoration of the Stuarts, one of the darkest and most 
gUximy in Knglish history. Louis XJV. was just entering upon his 
brilliiuit but desperate career in France, and this, when the cause of lil»erty 
in Kiui>iH^ seemed hopeless, the early settlers of New England were planlhig 
the institutions of freedom in tlie new world. This settlement was not the 
mere outgrowth of a crowded civilization, but an independent establishment; 
it was a vine planted in the wihU-rni-ss. There were no settlements within 
Ihiily miles, Lancaster in the east, and .Springfield in the west, and this w.xs 
made half a century before any nearer was attenipted — fifty-seven years before 
IJrimfield, the first after, and eighty-nine yeare before O.akham, the next, 
while the proud city of Worcester was still a swamp, and Leicester hills were 
covered with wilil forests. The great reasons why tliis was maih; so early a 
point for settlement, were, first, this beautiful plain was oi)en and clear of 



86 

trees, and all ready for the culture of the husbandmen ; second, the broad and 
beaiitiflil meadows ofTered ample supplies of grass and hay for their stock ; 
ajid third, the beautiful ponds, rivers, and brooks, were amply stocked with fish, 
for tlieir earlier and later wants. 

Remarking further upon the ancient glory and importance of this town, 
above others near it, Mr. Walker introduced the Orator of the day, a native of 
North Brookfield, the Rev. Lyman Whiting of Providence, R. I. 

The Orator opened with an eloquent welcome to the gathered sons and 
daughters. Thence passing on, he reviewed the attractions of the place for 
early settlement, and sketched the recorded history of its occupation. He 
called attention to the fact that it was lai'gely the Saxon desire for landed 
possessions that led these settlers into this wilderness, really a land specula- 
tion, that led the western emigrants of that day lo locate in this western 
reserve, in the place of pushing Anther into the distant Illinois of the Con- 
necticut valley. He dilated in eloquent and glowing terms upon the heroism 
and daring that led these settlers to locate at the chief seat of so warlike and 
fierce a tribe of Indians as were the Nipmucs, 

He then brought in record the various interesting historic facts and in- 
cidents connected with this settlement, such as the grant to the original com- 
pany from the General Court in 16G0, the deed from the Indians in 1G05, and 
the memorable and fearful events of the King Philip war in 1675, the terrible 
events of which, as they transpired in d'etail on this soil, he portrayed In 
graphic and telling periods, with occasional bursts of impassioned eloquence. 

After this he came to the earliest sacred records of the town in its organic 
capacity, holding up a dilapidated manuscript leaf containing the first record 
extant. He also exhibited an original deed of land from Ebenezer Scott and 
William Scott of Springfield, to Thomas Barnes of Brookfield, in 1708, ad- 
dressed " To all Christian People to whom these presents shall come," as the 
earliest surviving deed of land in this town. 

In reading extracts from the early records, many of historic interest were 
given, and many of curious qnaintness; many of them showing the historic 
characteristics of the early churches, and the history of the various early 
clergymen of this town, which he brought to the present generation, this his- 
tory being quite full and complete. 

The following is a specimen from the town records of 1721: — "Voted to 
build good strong plain seats in ye body of ye meeting house." 

The speaker then reviewed the prominent men who in early days were lo- 
cated here, speaking of the Dwights, the Uphams, the Fosters, and others, 
attributing to Mr. Upham the building of the first woolen mill on the continent, 
and dwelling at length upon the virtues and meritorious characteristics of 
Hon. Jedediah Foster, and his descendants, to the late Hon. A. D. Foster of 
this city. 

He then came to the records of the Revolution, which are full of patriotic 
transcripts, one of them calling on " all the world to witness our indignation 
at the importation of tea to be peddled out among us, which is a more deadly 



^ 



87 

poison to our polilical and moral constitutions than ratsbane is to our 
physical." 

A year and twelve days before the Declaration of Independence, this town 
voted to sustain the Colonial Congress, if they should vote to dissolve their 
connection with the mother country. 

A few specimens of the " Moral and Polilical Telegraph, or Brookfleld 
Advertiser," which was published a few years, conunencing in 17'J4, was 
exhibited — one of them in 170C, advocating the project of a canal to Provi- 
dence, and suggesting tliat books be opened for subscription, among other 
places, at Worcester. 

Also a copy of " The Political Repository or Fanners' Journal," Volume 3, 
Number 18(), published at Brookfleld, March .U, 1801, was held up to view. 

The oration, which occupied nearly two honrs, was full of historic f;icls of 
great value to all interested in the town as well as to the antiquary, and occa- 
sionally leaving dry details, the orator brought out many glowing elo<|uent pas- 
sages, and closed with an eloquent tribute to the three venerable clergymen who 
were so near contemporaneous, and who each lived to preach to the churches 
of their first love their lialf-century sermons, Uev. Mr. Stone of South Brook- 
field, Rev. Dr. Snell of North Brookfleld, and Kev. Dr. Fiske of New Brain- 
tree, quoting, as a finale, some beautiful lines of Bryant appropriate to such 
an occasion. 

Arrangements were made for the publication of this valuable history of the 
town. 

Blanks were distributed through the audience, to be filled out with the 
names and other statistics of all the sons and daughters present, for publica- 
tion, with the address and other proceedings of the day. 

Cieorge W. Lincoln, Esq., the toastmaster, then read the sentiments as 
follows : — 

The Perils and Sufferings of the Early Settlera — The price paid for our 
civilization and freedom — we will not forget our obligations. 

Brookjield — Forty-five years under tutelage, she has attained to her major- 
ity, and iiiis greater reason than any ancient Spartan of being proud of her 
sons. 

This was responded to by Rev. C. Gushing of North Brookfleld, who gave 
some historic sketches of the past sons, with coijiplimontary notices of some 
of the more recent sons who had distinguished themselves in busHiess, in the 
pulpit, at the bar, on tlie bench, and in the medical profession, giving also a 
list of the college graduates from this town. 

T)n' Mi)iittry of lirookjiild — Noted fur long life and long pastorates; may 
their successors emulate their virtues, and receive in like measure the bless- 
ing of their Lord. 

Responded to by Dr. Eliakim Phelps of Philadelphia, forty years ago pas- 
tor of the first precinct church, (West Brookfield,) eloquently setting forth 
the duties and inlluence of the ministry, and the importance always set upon 
it by the inhabitants of this town. 



88 

The Three Brookfichls — Like the tliree graces, all beautiful, and so much the 
more for the contrast and variety which they present; may they never cease 
to vie with each other in all useful and honorable enterprise, as well as in 
rendering more and more attractive their homesteads and villages. 

Responded to by-N. B. Chamberlin, Esq., of Boston, (a native). 

By E. W. Bond, Esq., of Springfield, (a native) :— 

The Tri-Centennial Anniversary of the Settlement of Brookfield — May it 
dawn upon a people as eminent for their virtues, their noble and heroic qual- 
ities, as the people of the first and second centuries in its history. 

The System of Free Schools, established hy our Fathers — It opens a straight 
and xniobstructed pathway from the threshold of eveiy abode, however hum- 
ble, to the highest places of usefulness, influence, and honor. 

Responded to by Rev. Mr. Burr of South Brookfield, sketching the Iristory 
of the free schools of New England, complimenting the early connection of 
the schools with the church, and regretting the tendency to separation there- 
from. 

Our National Banner — Wherever on the earth's surface the eye of the 
American beholds it, may he rejoice and have reason to bless it; on whatever 
spot it is planted, there may freedom have a strong foothold, humanity a 
brave champion, and religion a pure altar. 

Rev. C. M. Cordley of West Brookfield, pastor of the original Brookfield 
church, responded in historic and patriotic reminiscences, and instruction as 
a religious civilian. He spoke of the number of members of this church who 
had fallen at various distant points ol* battle in the struggle for the establish- 
ment of the nationality of this flag, and closed by expressing the hope that it 
may soon wave over all the inhabitants of the land, as free citizens, whether 
black or white. 

A letter was here read from Hon. P. Merrick (a native), regretting his 
detention by ill health from this celebration. 

The following letter was also read : — 

Boston, June 28, 1860. 
Gentlemen — Your communication, inviting me to attend tlie two hundredth 
anniversary of the settlement of the town of Brookfield, would liave been 
sooner replied to, but ft)r the hope that I might be able to accept your invita- 
tion, which I am compelled to decline. 

I have known but little of Brookfield or its inhabitants since my childhood, 
yet I feel much interested in the place of my nativity, ami where rests the 
mortal remains of my nmch beloved and respected father. 

Very sincerely yours, 

Wm. Appleton. 
Messrs. Aaron Kimball, Francis Howe, and others. 

N. B. — I enclose a check for one hundred dollars, which please apply 
toward the expenses of the celebration. 

Our Boy, East Brookfield — A promising minor, destined soon to come to 
his rights; he bids fair to make a vigorous and honored member of th^^^ 
old family of Brookficlds. 

Our hoy " Warren,'^ who left his Parent and set tip for himself in 1741. — 
He might have been a little wayward in his youth, but he makes a likely man, 
and does honor to the present age. 



89 

Rospnndoil to l>y T. M. Diiiiciin of North HrnokfioM, in prose and verse, 

A Pure Church, and Free Schooh, and a Government resjiuiutihle to the 
Pviiplf — These were the great uh'as which brought our falhei-s to New Kiig- 
l.ind, and our greatest honor will be to have aided hi the development of 
tiiese institutions. 

Hev. W. II. Heecher of North Brookfiold spoke to this, speaKuig of the 
n«>cossary result from and connection with the free schools of a free church, 
and a free government responsible to an intelligent people. 

Shdttonckf/uis, the Indinu Chief, who Hold (^hinhtiaf; to EnsUpi Cooper for 
three huudnd fiithoDiH of W<nn]tuui — lie doubtless thought ho made a good 
bargain with tlie white men at tlie time, but if he were here, to-day, he could 
not buy it back for twice the money. 

By Wni. B. Draper, Esq., of New York, (a native). 

lirookfield Two Hundred Yeari* A(io — Then only one town, now divided 
into three ; may they henceforth become as one in all that elevates humanity. 

The Earhj Settlers of Ilronkfield — The light that on their beads two hun- 
dred years liave shed, shall ne'er grow dim. 

By Dr. John Romans of Boston, a native: — 

The Anrlent Town of lirookfield — In the period of our Revolutionary 
struggle, distinguished for her patriotism, and for lu-r liberal eontrilnitions to 
the relief of her distressed fellow-citizens, and always honored in the industry, 
enterprise, and intelligence of her sons and daughters, at home and abroad. 

The Three Christian Pontors of the Last Century in lirookfield — Ki)hraim 
Ward of the West Pai'ish. Micah Stone of the South, and Tboniiis Siiell of the 
North — three shining lights. Two of them are already placed in the upiMif 
temple, one still burns with the golden glow of a saintly olii ago. 

Dr. Jabez B. Upham of Boston here made a brief speech, giving some 
interesting reminiscences of the Uphatu family, for a long time so prominent 
in West Brookfiold, and closed with the following sentiment: — 

Our Descendants, the Sons and Dau^/hters of lirookfield One Tfundred 
Tears henct — May tlioy incline to hide, with the mantle of all-oovcring 
charity, the sins, negligence and ignorance, of this our day .and generation. 

}fitster Ranker, the Last Surricin;/ Teacher of a former Generation — May 
he long live and have the satisfaction of knowing that his old pupils are 
behaving well. 

M.-ister Ranger, a veteran of seventy-five years, and white hair, str>od up 
.•and practi-*ed his old scholar, the president of the day, in tlie ornament of 
'making polite bows, whereupon Rev. Dr. Phelps congratulated him upon the 
proficiency of his pupil. 

The Ahsent Sons and Daui/hters of Old lirookiflcld. 

The Merriams of Sprinafield— The enterprising and worthy publisliers of 
that great "American institution," Webster's Unabridged Dictiouary ; they 
are sons of whom Brookfiold is proud. 

By ( lOo. Forbes, Esq : — 

Old lirookilield — She has turned out ni.iny brave boys and modest maidens, 
and sent them to prairie and town. May she continue year by year to add 



90 

recruits of tnie manhood and womanhood who shall be living epistles and 
proof of her worth. 

Rev. Hubbard Winslow, D. D. of Brooklyn, N. Y., made a short speech. 

Judge Danforth of New York, (a native,) seventy-four years absent, spoke 
briefly, also Deacon Josiah Gary of St. Charles, Mo., (a native;. 

The president here exhibited a note of the Massachusetts colonial currency 
numbered 5655, and dated December 1, 1772, for the amount of five shillings 
and four pence; also a stone pot, of Indian manufacture, of the capacity of 
about two gallons, which was found in the earth near the Wickaboag pond. 

Conspicuous upon the desk was also a lignum vitae mortar and pestle that 
showed a long and ample service, with a card reading as follows: — "This 
mortar was the property of John Howland, one of the Pilgrims, who landed 
from the Mayflower at Plymouth, in 1620. His descendant in the fifth gene- 
ration, Southworth Howland, resided in West Brookfield for half a century, 
tUl 1843. His widow and surviving sons and daughters are present to-day. 

George Howe, Esq., of Boston, offered the last sentiment, as follows: — 

The Ladies of the Three BrookfiekU — Among whom may be found those 
capable of acting in the place of Victoria herself. 

The band, which had through the whole afternoon interspersed their 
music with the other exercises, here played a parting tune, and tlie gatliering 
dispersed, well pleased with the exercises, and having never before assembled, 
never expecting again to assemble for a centennial celebration of the settle- 
ment of this old town. 



91 



CONCLUDING NOTE. 



The interval botwoon the pivinj; of this Oration, and tho printing 
of it, arose from many and coniplfcated causes; — tlie action of tlie 
several towns ; the great war of Southern Rebellion ; the author's 
removal to a distant state, etc. etc. 

The work after all the labor and care spent on it, will come short of 
the expectations of many, — of none more than of the author. It is 
really but a thread drawn through our multiform town history ; not 
the history itself A volume would bo filled with fragments of the 
great story, unwilliiij^ly k-ft behind, as I have traversed the stern 
and shadowy realm of our heroic past. Who will gather and pre- 
serve these precious traditions and fragments of record? Now they 
are within reach. Soon they will be gone past recovery. 

Rev. Cuuistopiier M. Cordley, sometime pastor at West Brook- 
field, — now deceased, — gathered for me a score of pages of capital 
traditions, — of forts and roads,; and family legends of the Gilbert, 
liAKNKs and a few other families. They are a choice bundle of 
local archteolgy ; so also, are some pages by Joel Jennings, Esq., 
as to Mason's Kill and Forts, at Brookfield, etc. Also a fine 
sketch of his father's family, and exteudttl notes of several other 
worthy households, from the pen of tho Hon. A.masa Wal'KER. A 
few pages full of curiosities as to North Brookfield's early days and 
ways, from Hon. Freeman Walker, betray him as having a rare 
aptitude for, and a store of that rich legejidar}' lore, which so beau- 
tifies and enriches history. A few other scraps, like the Sybil's 
leaves, growing costly as they diminish, await some patient annalist. 
Not long will they wait. 

It was my hope and purpose to edit and blend into this print, 
these treasures from the past ; as also notices of the royal men and 
families who planted these towns. But that would be forming a 
volume, which was not the service to which I was calK-d; and, se- 
lecting some families, to the neglect of others, would expose me to 



92 



the complaints of sensitive survivors. So these touching, precious 
and n^structive local traditions, and the family genealogies, are left 
to some faithful lover of our truly heroic ancestry. 

The substantial historic frame-work, I am happy to think, will be 
found m th,8 Oration,-which, with the reverent admiration of a child 
toward a worthy parentage, has been, with much pains-taking 
drawn up, and is now fraternally presented to my Townsmen and 
Jbriends. % 

To those now living, I give joyous salutations for the Times in 
which we live; to those who shall come after, I send hopeful assur- 
ances now enjoyed, of a day radiant with the glories of which our 
leathers saw only the fainter beams of its dawn. The Eedeemer 
in whom they trusted is strong. 

I^uMtue, /«„., February, 1860. ^'^^^ WHITING. 



hFe 06 



IGGO, 



A 



18G(». 



Bl-GENTENNIxVL OrATION 



MAnK IN 



WEST BROOKPIELD, JUL*Y^4^ 1860. 



AT Till; 1 i.i.l.];i;A riuN (m nil. 



TWO HTINDKEDTH ANNIVERSAJtY 



OF THE 8KTTI.KMKMT OF TJIK 



TOWN OF BKOOK FIELD. 



BY LYMAN WHITING, D.D. 



* IfATtVS or >OBTn BIOOKriBLD. 



WEST BROOKFIELD: 

PRINTED BY THOMAS MORKY. 

186 9. 



-^. — 



f--^*^ 



